Ariana Grande tests positive for COVID ahead of Wicked: For Good launch

Ariana Grande tests positive for COVID-19 ahead of the global launch of Wicked: For Good, forcing last-minute promo cancellations and schedule changes (image source)

Ariana Grande has tested positive for COVID-19 and will miss several promotional appearances for Wicked: For Good, including a scheduled appearance on The Kelly Clarkson Show. She announced the result on Instagram the day the film opens. Grande revealed the positive test on her Instagram Stories after appearing on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, posting a photo captioned “moments before Covid” and confirming she would step back from some live promotional duties as the film hits cinemas. The announcement came on the eve of the global release of Wicked: For Good, a high-profile sequel in which Grande stars as Glinda, amplifying the immediate publicity impact of her diagnosis.

Producers and publicists have already adjusted the promotional schedule. Grande is reported to be skipping a planned joint appearance with co-star Cynthia Erivo on The Kelly Clarkson Show and several Q&A panels tied to the launch. Erivo herself had recently missed interviews after losing her voice, complicating the pair’s ability to promote together in person. Studios typically balance publicity needs with health guidance, and in this case the decision to limit in-person events reflects both public-health caution and the logistical realities of a global press tour.

The timing is significant. Wicked: For Good arrives amid a crowded holiday release slate, and lead-actor appearances are central to opening-week visibility. Missing scheduled media rounds can blunt immediate momentum, though studios increasingly rely on hybrid promotion — pre-recorded interviews, virtual Q&As and social content — to sustain awareness when talent are unavailable. Industry sources say contingency plans often include taped segments, remote interviews and amplified social media campaigns to preserve box-office prospects while respecting isolation protocols.

Public reaction has been mixed: fans expressed concern for Grande’s health and disappointment at missed appearances, while others praised the decision to isolate and avoid further spread. Health experts continue to advise isolation after a positive test and to follow local guidance on return-to-work criteria, especially for performers who travel internationally and interact with large crews and audiences. For the film’s marketing team, the immediate priorities are clear: protect cast and crew, maintain promotional visibility through alternative channels and reassure exhibitors and audiences that the premiere schedule remains intact. Studios also monitor potential ripple effects on premieres, red-carpet events and international press stops, adjusting plans as test results and recovery timelines evolve.

As Grande recovers, the industry will watch how the studio deploys digital promotion and whether the absence of a major star at launch affects opening-week performance. In the short term, the focus is on health and safe promotion; in the medium term, on sustaining audience interest through creative publicity and the film’s own draw.