Cynthia Erivo made a kind gesture at the Oscars 2020 by insisting she had to stop and chat to a black reporter on the red carpet.
The 33-year-old, who unfortunately missed out on winning best actress for her performance in Harriet, was spotted making her way down the red carpet alongside her assistant wearing a stunning white custom Atelier Versace gown.
Lola Ogunnaike, a reporter for People TV, CNN and MSNBC, filmed a video of herself hollering Cynthia’s name in hopes of the actress stopping to talk.
But Cynthia was clearly pushed for time as her publicist insisted she continue walking down the carpet and gently tugged on her hand.
The Color Purple star was visibly apologetic to the group of reporters for not being able to stop and clutched her hand to her chest while mouthing ‘sorry!’
However, Lola was in luck as Cynthia seemed to recognise her and said ‘hello’ before telling her publicist: ‘I have to’ and walking over for a quick chat.
It was a heartwarming moment which has earned Cynthia applause as many black reporters have expressed their negative experiences of working on red carpets, where some have been overlooked in favour of non-black journalists.
Beyonce’s publicist Yvette Noel Schure left a simple comment on the video which spoke volumes, and said: ‘A statement.’
Cynthia’s big gesture left one fan particularly emotional as they admitted: ‘I teared up…absolutely beautiful. Cynthia’s vibe is just different.’
‘I have to! Love that Cynthia did this,’ another enthused.
Another praised: ‘Love the Sister to Sister moment.’
Referring to February being Black History Month in the US, another weighed in: ‘I’m so happy she stopped for you! ##BHM vibes all month long.’
Cynthia’s move is reminiscent of Halle Berry refusing to ignore two black reporters at the John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum premiere back in May.
The reporters happened to be the only people of colour on the red carpet and apparently the only ones to be denied an interview with the actress.
Although Cynthia missed out on claiming the full EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony), she delivered a stunning performance of Stand Up from the Harriet soundtrack at the Academy Awards.
Cynthia was the only black person nominated in the main categories at the Academy Awards this year, and admitted her nod for best actress was ‘bittersweet’ because of it.
‘I really want people to see it and think, “You know, this, this doesn’t look right. This doesn’t feel right”,’ Cynthia told Entertainment Tonight.
‘I want us to be celebrated, I want us to, because we work hard all year long, and we put good work out, and there’s beautiful pictures that we make, and there’s beautiful stories that we tell, and those deserve celebration as well. So, we should be able to be there too.’
Oscars 2020 Winners List
Best picture – Parasite
Best actress – Renée Zellweger, Judy
Best actor – Joaquin Phoenix, Joker
Best supporting actor – Brad Pitt, Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood
Best supporting actress – Laura Dern, Marriage Story
Best director – Bong Joon-ho, Parasite
Music (original song) – (I’m Gonna) Love Me Again, Rocketman
Music (original score) – Joker
International feature film – South Korea, Parasite
Makeup and hairstyling – Bombshell
Visual effects – 1917
Best film editing – Ford v Ferrari
Best cinematography – Roger Deakins, 1917
Best sound mixing – 1917
Best sound editing – Ford v Ferrari
Documentary short feature – Learning to Skateboard in a Warzone (If You’re a Girl)
Documentary feature – American Factory
Best costume design – Jacqueline Durran, Little Women
Best production design – Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood
Live-action short film – The Neighbors’ Window
Best adapted screenplay – Taika Waititi, Jojo Rabbit
Best original screenplay – Bong Joon Ho, Parasite
Animated short film – Hair Love
Animated feature film –Toy Story 4
MORE: Cynthia Erivo says it’s ‘bittersweet’ being only black Oscar nominee: ‘We deserve celebration’
MORE: Cynthia Erivo could actually win an EGOT as she scoops best actress Oscar nomination for Harriet