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The international promotional blitz for Universal Pictures’ much-anticipated sequel for the Oscar nominated musical, Wicked: For Good, encounters its final major hurdle.
Ariana Grande revealed on Thursday that she tested positive for COVID-19.
The 32-year-old actress, who plays Glinda, immediately shared the news with her fans via an Instagram Story.
She posted a photo from her November 18 appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, simply captioning the image, “moments before Covid.”
Grande’s diagnosis immediately forced her to pull out of several scheduled appearances, including a taping of The Kelly Clarkson Show, where she was set to join her co-star, Cynthia Erivo.
Erivo, 38, will now navigate her final promotional duties solo.
This health news closes out what became a deeply challenging final week for the Wicked leading ladies.
Just three days before Grande's announcement, the two stars skipped most press interviews at the film's New York City premiere.
Universal Pictures previously announced that Erivo, who plays Elphaba, felt "not well" and had lost her voice.
Grande publicly stood in solidarity with her co-star, refusing to speak to the media herself. Erivo later confirmed on The Tonight Show that she still lacked her voice.
This string of health-related disruptions only adds to the saga. The co-stars previously revealed that the virus separately struck them both while they filmed the first Wicked movie.
Erivo just before shooting her show-stopping "Defying Gravity," and Grande right before filming "Popular."
Despite the setbacks, the show must continue: Wicked: For Good premieres on November 21.
