“That’s A Demon”: Footage Of Cynthia Erivo Playing Jesus With Long Nails Made Audiences Recoil

Cynthia Erivo’s controversial casting as Jesus Christ in Jesus Christ Superstar has moved from divisive headlines to full-blown backlash, as footage of her performance at the Hollywood Bowl went viral this weekend.

Erivo, who appeared on stage in a torn white dress with claw-like acrylic nails, was seen singing opposite Adam Lambert in what the Bowl’s website describes as a “return to the rock roots” of the iconic musical. 

But for many viewers, the production didn’t feel like a revival. It felt like a tired, elitist provocation from Hollywood.

“This is supposed to be Jesus Christ Superstar, not Bride of Frankenstein,” the original poster wrote, with the clip racking up 2 million views over the weekend.

Footage of Cynthia Erivo as the lead in Jesus Christ Superstar was mocked online, with many describing it as “creepy”

Cynthia Erivo with long nails at the Critics Choice Awards, sparking mass outrage over her portrayal of Jesus with Adam Lambert.

Image credits: Getty / Matt Winkelmeyer

“Eerie,” “frightening, and “unholy” where just some of the words viewers used to describe Erivo’s look, which, beyond a tattered white dress, made almost no effort to separate the actress from the musical’s titular character.

Adam Lambert with silver hair and bold makeup wearing a gray suit and blue shirt at a formal event.

Image credits: Getty / Arturo Holmes

Erivo stepped on stage displaying what has become her trademark look, sporting a shaved head, jewelry and a gaunt appearance that, coupled with her long nails and her mannerisms, made audiences recoil.

“That is a f*cking demon,” one user bluntly declared.

Cynthia Erivo and ensemble in dramatic stage performance portraying Jesus with Adam Lambert amid mass outrage.

Image credits: Hollywood Bowl / Farah Sosa

The production, directed by Sergio Trujillo with music direction by Stephen Oremus, ran from August 1–3, with tickets priced between $400 and $1,270. 

Cynthia Erivo with long nails portrayed as Jesus in a dramatic stage scene with fiery cross and dark background.

Image credits: Hollywood Bowl / Farah Sosa

Ever since it was first announced in February of this year, critics argued that casting what they saw as an elite actress to play the son of God was less a bold artistic decision and more a reflection of the entertainment industry’s increasingly alienating brand of pseudo-revolutionary messaging.

Cynthia Erivo as Jesus in JCS. words don’t quite do justice to how brilliant this truly is pic.twitter.com/F0LcHYW9k5

— sasha 🫧 (@CANDYN3CKLCE) August 2, 2025

“Who does this appeal to? What person really wants to go and see this?” a confused viewer asked.

“Post a jeans commercial and all hell breaks loose. Blatantly mock an entire religion and it’s completely fine,” another pointed out, referencing the recent backlash against Sydney Sweeney’s American Eagle ad.

Detractors condemned the casting choice, believing it to be motivated primarily by political reasons

Cynthia Erivo with long nails and Adam Lambert performing on stage, evoking mass outrage over Jesus portrayal.

Image credits: X / KarluskaP

Erivo’s participation in Disney’s Wicked last year was full of ups and downs. While her talent as a performer was widely acknowledged by both critics and audiences, it was her behavior off screen that brought her trouble.

That’s not Jesus Christ, that’s a demon https://t.co/bElA8ZmpDW

— Kangmin Lee | 이강민 (@kangminjlee) August 3, 2025

From disparaging fellow auditioners to angrily reacting to fan edits, her media appearances have painted her as an elitist figure with a victim complex.

“Doesn’t she realize how utterly absurd this perpetual-victim schtick sounds coming from people that have reached the pinnacle of their craft and are making heaps of money?” a reader wrote at the time.

Tweet screenshot showing user commenting that a film starring Cynthia Erivo as Jesus looks like a demon movie.

Image credits: jmoore1226

Tweet by June Harris expressing outrage over long-nailed Cynthia Erivo playing Jesus with Adam Lambert.

Image credits: juniemoon35

So when she took to the stage at the Hollywood Bowl to play the ultimate symbol of humility, many found the act not just ill-fitting, but deliberately aimed at generating outrage.

Cynthia Erivo performing with long nails, passionately singing on stage with a microphone, sparking mass outrage as Jesus.

Image credits: X / KarluskaP

“In reverse it would be cultural and gender appropriation! Hollywood should be ashamed,” a user argued.

Others fixated on her physical appearance, which they felt aligned with a disturbing trend in modern Hollywood and the fashion industry: a push toward androgyny and an almost aggressive rejection of classical femininity.

Erivo’s detractors expressed exhaustion over what they saw as the actress using intellectual properties to further her agenda

Cynthia Erivo plays as Jesus in Hollywood’s Jesus Christ Superstar

Far closer to Nosferatu’s shadow than the divine light of Christ.

God will not be mocked. pic.twitter.com/nbiiAEzhxz

— Digital Gal (@DigitalGal_X) August 4, 2025

Despite the controversial casting, this isn’t the first time Erivo participated in a Jesus Christ Superstar production.  She previously played the role of Mary Magdalene in an all-female version of the musical in 2020, with singer Morgan James taking on the role of Jesus at the time.

“I am so honored that all of these superstar women said ‘yes’ and came to the studio with such graciousness and sense of collaboration,” James said.

Cynthia Erivo with long nails and Adam Lambert perform onstage, capturing mass outrage over the Jesus portrayal.

Image credits: Hollywood Bowl / Farah Sosa

The religious figure was also played by a black actor in a 2018’s version of the musical, with John Legend taking on the role for the NBC live-action remake.

Cynthia Erivo is the only jesus I believe in https://t.co/hxa9twkHbTpic.twitter.com/4gFYCyavLW

— shada🌸✨ (@benslersway1) August 3, 2025

For Erivo, both her role as Wicked’s Elphaba and as Jesus are part of what she sees as “portraying the struggles of being a black woman when nobody wants you there.”

Specifically, the actress said that the witch’s green skin symbolically made her the “ultimate other,” being queer not just in terms of her orientation, but in a broader sense of not being able to fit with societal expectations.

Tweet discussing mass outrage over Cynthia Erivo playing Jesus with Adam Lambert amid a sold-out Hollywood Bowl run.

Image credits: MimsyYamaguchi

“It’s a conversation about racism, but it’s also a conversation about anyone who’s been othered. It’s a conversation about queerness,” she said in an interview.

Cynthia Erivo with bold makeup and piercings, wearing an ornate beaded outfit, linked to mass outrage and demon keyword.

Image credits: Instagram / cynthiaerivo

Both then and now, her detractors lamented what they saw as the actress using the intellectual properties to further an agenda of her own.

“My all-time favorite musical, ruined. Disgusting choice,” a reader said. “These people can’t help but inject their politics into everything they touch.”

“On purpose.” Some netizens believe the casting choice aligns with a specific agenda

Screenshot of a tweet criticizing Cynthia Erivo’s portrayal of Jesus with long nails, sparking mass outrage online.

Image credits: Will_Ford76

Screenshot of a social media post expressing outrage over Cynthia Erivo playing Jesus with Adam Lambert, featuring long nails.

Image credits: juniemoon35

Tweet expressing outrage over Cynthia Erivo playing Jesus with Adam Lambert, criticizing portrayal as mocking Savior Jesus.

Image credits: 2heartsranch

Tweet criticizing long-nailed Cynthia Erivo’s appearance as Jesus alongside Adam Lambert during mass outrage.

Image credits: LaserrCatt

Screenshot of a social media post showing mass outrage over long-nailed Cynthia Erivo playing Jesus with Adam Lambert.

Image credits: WisdomOverIQ

Screenshot of a tweet expressing outrage calling the portrayal of Jesus by long-nailed Cynthia Erivo demonic.

Image credits: Snolleygoster

Social media outrage sparked by Cynthia Erivo’s portrayal of Jesus with long nails alongside Adam Lambert.

Image credits: 1r0nB34r

Tweet criticizing casting of long-nailed Cynthia Erivo playing Jesus with Adam Lambert amid mass outrage.

Image credits: Mr____Allegedly

Screenshot of a tweet expressing outrage over long-nailed Cynthia Erivo playing Jesus alongside Adam Lambert.

Image credits: 2heartsranch

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