Cynthia Erivo’s Harper’s Bazaar cover was meant to celebrate artistry and self-expression. But instead of admiration, the photos provoked a wave of disgust.
The 38-year-old Wicked star posed bare for the magazine’s November issue, wearing nothing but sheer black tights and heels. Other looks included a white sheer gown with silver detailing, a plunging black dress, a dramatic ruffled ensemble, and finally, a gold bodysuit paired with a full-face mask.
Highlights
- Cynthia Erivo’s Harper’s Bazaar shoot was praised by some as daring, and slammed by others as “grotesque.”
- Fans of glamour and fashion called it “refreshing,” praising her presence and artistic range
- Erivo spoke about how Jada Plinkett Smith helped her navigate fame and “recognize her power.”
Mainstream outlets described the shoot with words like “sensational,” “incredible,” and “head-turning.” But online, the tone was anything but.
“Harper’s Bizarre fits better,” one user wrote. “She looks like Nosferatu,” another added.
Cynthia Erivo’s latest magazine cover ignited a debate online with detractors labeling her a “narcissistic mess”
Image credits: Harper's Bazaar/Cass Bird
Even among those who value Erivo’s talent the reactions were negative.
“She has an incredible voice, her style on the red carpet has been faultless, but these pictures cheapen all that,” one reader said. “It’s unnecessary.”
“I don't get these pictures. They do her no favors,” another replied.
Others were much harsher in their assessment, labeling Erivo as a “narcissistic mess,” and her now signature style — defined by her shaved head and gaunt frame — as unsettling rather than empowering.
“I won’t be buying this issue,” a reader stated. “She looks grotesque. I would run if I saw her.”
Image credits: Harper's Bazaar/Cass Bird
Many mocked the elaborate and sharp acrylic nails, one of Erivo’s signature accessories, shown in several shots.
“Those nails must cause a few injuries,” a user commented. “How does someone wipe their backside properly with nails like that?”
What was framed by Bazaar as a high-fashion exploration of identity came across to some viewers as ultimately self-indulgent.
“She’s exhausting,” a reader wrote.
Over the years, netizens have reacted to Erivo with a mix of admiration for her talent, and frustration with her behavior
Image credits: Harper's Bazaar/Cass Bird
The backlash didn’t come in a vacuum.
Erivo’s public image has been declining for over a year, caught between feelings of admiration and annoyance. First during the Wicked promotional tour, and again this year after her controversial casting as Jesus Christ in Jesus Christ Superstar.
Image credits: Harper's Bazaar/Cass Bird
While her talent was rarely questioned by netizens, her behavior off-camera earned her a reputation for arrogance.
Reports of her disparaging fellow actresses, snapping at interviewers, and complaining about “being othered” despite her success led some to see her as detached from reality.
Image credits: Harper's Bazaar/Cass Bird
“Doesn’t she realize how utterly absurd this perpetual-victim schtick sounds coming from people that have reached the pinnacle of their craft?” a reader wrote last year.
So when she appeared on stage as Jesus, for many the ultimate symbol of humility, some found it hypocritical.
“In reverse it would be cultural and gender appropriation! Hollywood should be ashamed,” a viewer said at the time.
Erivo has been widely recognized as one of the most talented and successful actresses in Hollywood
Image credits: Getty/Alberto Rodriguez
Erivo’s supporters, on the other hand, see in her a symbol of endurance and power. They see a woman of color rising through the ranks to become one of the most respected artists in the world and the current Vice President of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, her alma mater.
As both an actress and singer, Erivo is one of the few individuals in history nominated for a Grammy, an Oscar, a Tony Award, and an Emmy.
Image credits: Instagram/cynthiaerivo
Despite her accomplishments, Erivo has developed a public image shaped by what many see as a contradiction in how she presents herself. To critics, she’s someone who positions herself as both a victim and an icon, constantly lecturing audiences while insisting she’s misunderstood.
That tension has made her a polarizing figure. Netizens often describe feeling “talked down to” by her interviews and speeches.
“She acts like she’s both oppressed and superior,” one commenter wrote.
Image credits: Getty/Dave Benett
The perception isn’t new. Back in 2013, Erivo angered a segment of the African American community after mocking their accent on social media.
“She cannot stand black Americans, we are ghetto, low life, and lazy! But has all the audacity to play our historical figures,” a reader wrote at the time.
Fashion fans were delighted by the photoshoot, and praised the actress’ expressions
Image credits: Harper's Bazaar/Cass Bird
In her Harper’s Bazaar interview, Erivo said she feels “fully myself right now,” crediting friend Jada Pinkett Smith for guiding her through fame.
“Recognize the beauty and the power that you possess,” Jada told her.
While certain parts of the internet recoiled at the shoot, fashion and glamour fans praised it as one of the most visually interesting celebrity editorials they had seen.
“I just love her silhouette,” one fan wrote, as another called the spread “the most interesting celeb shoot I’ve seen in a while.”
Others focused on details such as her tattoos and physique.
“Her thigh tattoos are amazing,” one fan wrote.
“I am always baffled that such a petite woman can look so statuesque,” another added. “I think she’s the only person I have ever seen that can do this.”
Even some of her detractors turned around to praise her.
“Cynthia can do and say whatever she wants, quite frankly. If I had half the talent she does I would be insufferable.”
"Weirder and weirder." Netizens took to social media to share their thoughts on the photos
