Cynthia Erivo has addressed the criticism of her upcoming turn as the star role in the Hollywood Bowl ‘s “ Jesus Christ Superstar ,” which elicited conservative backlash when it was announced earlier this year.

During an interview with Billboard , the performer spoke out on the negative responses to a Black queer woman taking on the role in Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s musical. “Why not?” she said of her casting. “You can’t please everyone. It is legitimately a three-day performance at the Hollywood Bowl where I get to sing my face off. So hopefully they will come and realize, ‘Oh, it’s a musical, the gayest place on Earth.’”

Erivo was announced as part of the Los Angeles production in February, with plans to take the stage at the famed venue from Aug. 1-3. She previously st

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