Cynthia Erivo has officially entered her “people-scream-high-notes-at-me-on-the-street” era — and honestly? Queen behavior.
In case you’ve been living under a rock (or worse, without WiFi), Wicked: Part 1 wraps up with the iconic showstopper “Defying Gravity” — the song that makes you want to belt for your life while standing on a chair with zero regard for personal safety. But Cynthia, being the legend that she is, decided she wasn’t just going to sing the note — she decided to invent a new one. A spicy, saucy riff that basically broke the internet and several eardrums.
Recently, the 38-year-old actress/singer/official neighborhood riff machine sat down with SiriusXM’s Sway in the Morning and spilled the tea about how that one little vocal gymnastics moment flipped her entire existence upside down.
“It has completely changed my life. People now randomly sing it at me. Like, I’ll be signing autographs or just, you know, living my best life, and suddenly — BAM! Someone’s trying to hit that note behind me like a sonic sneak attack. I’m just trying to walk to my car and someone’s out here defying gravity at me. WHO KNEW?!” Cynthia laughed.
Honestly, sounds both flattering and mildly terrifying.
So how did this life-altering riff happen? According to Cynthia, it was actually a happy accident.
“At first, I tried to sing it just like the original. I was being a good little musical theater nerd,” she explained. “But then the musical director and the composer were like, ‘Okay, cool, but where’s the Cynthia-ness?’ So I just… did something. I opened my mouth, prayed to the gods of diva vocals, and the riff just flew out. It felt good, and apparently now it haunts me forever — in a good way.”
And let’s not forget the aftermath: TikTok challenges, YouTube covers, your one cousin at Thanksgiving trying (and failing) to hit it after two glasses of wine — Cynthia has heard it everywhere.
“I had NO IDEA it would turn into a whole movement. Like, people are genuinely out here fighting for their lives to hit that note. And I love it. It’s wonderful. It’s chaotic. It’s everything.”
Bottom line: Cynthia Erivo didn’t just defy gravity — she redefined it. One unexpected riff at a time. 🌟