Anonymous
Post 06/11/2025 16:26     Subject: I find Cynthia Erivo's nose ring so distracting
Same op!
Anonymous
Post 06/11/2025 16:25     Subject: Re:I find Cynthia Erivo's nose ring so distracting
Anonymous wrote:Just want to gently point out something that might be getting lost in this thread: when a group of mostly white women are picking apart the appearance of a Black woman, especially saying things like her nose is her 'worst feature' or that she looks 'gross', that veers into very loaded territory, whether folks realize it or not.

Black women’s noses, skin, hair, and bodies have been historically devalued and ridiculed in Western beauty standards. So when a white person says a Black woman’s wide nose is unattractive, it’s not just a style critique, it taps into a long and painful history of racism and dehumanization.

No one has to love every celebrity’s fashion choices, but maybe just… pause and consider why certain features get labeled as 'ugly' and who gets to decide what’s beautiful in the first place. Spoiler: It’s not a neutral playing field.

And also, Cynthia Erivo is literally an acclaimed, Tony-winning, Oscar-nominated actress. So maybe we could shift from 'she’s gross' to 'not my taste' and call it a day? And yes, I know there are posters in this thread who have done that, just simply said she's not my taste. This post is not for you.


I am the OP of this thread and while I generally agree with you, I actually did not intend this thread as a discussion of Erivo's body in any way (and definitely have not and would never criticize her nose, which I think is fine, or say that she or anyone "looks gross"). Also I wouldn't say Erivo is not to my taste, because she is -- I actively like her as an actress.

I just watched the Tonies and Erivo hosted and I found her nose ring super distracting. Normally when I see her for long periods of time, she is performing in character and she doesn't have it in. But since she was hosting as herself and the nose ring is part of her current look, I discovered I just don't like it on her and wish she'd switch up her styling to omit it.

Also I'm not white but fair enough, probably the majority of people posting in this thread are. Your reminder is fair, but it certainly wasn't my intention with this thread for this to be a pile on of Erivo's appearance or a general critique of black women.
Anonymous
Post 06/11/2025 16:19     Subject: Re:I find Cynthia Erivo's nose ring so distracting
Anonymous wrote:Just want to gently point out something that might be getting lost in this thread: when a group of mostly white women are picking apart the appearance of a Black woman, especially saying things like her nose is her 'worst feature' or that she looks 'gross', that veers into very loaded territory, whether folks realize it or not.

Black women’s noses, skin, hair, and bodies have been historically devalued and ridiculed in Western beauty standards. So when a white person says a Black woman’s wide nose is unattractive, it’s not just a style critique, it taps into a long and painful history of racism and dehumanization.

No one has to love every celebrity’s fashion choices, but maybe just… pause and consider why certain features get labeled as 'ugly' and who gets to decide what’s beautiful in the first place. Spoiler: It’s not a neutral playing field.

And also, Cynthia Erivo is literally an acclaimed, Tony-winning, Oscar-nominated actress. So maybe we could shift from 'she’s gross' to 'not my taste' and call it a day? And yes, I know there are posters in this thread who have done that, just simply said she's not my taste. This post is not for you.


+1 This. I asked Jeff the moderator to lock this thread down yesterday because I feel like this thread highlights the ugliest part of DCUM, but he didn't.
Anonymous
Post 06/11/2025 16:18     Subject: I find Cynthia Erivo's nose ring so distracting
Anonymous wrote:I've never had an opinion on her but the wild unhinged-ness of this thread is making me a big fan of hers. Keep making them all hot and bothered Cynthia. I suspect the bizarre overreaction to her is a big part of why she loves her styling.


There are always posters on DCUM that say this and they are full of crap.
Anonymous
Post 06/11/2025 16:16     Subject: I find Cynthia Erivo's nose ring so distracting
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I think this style of nose ring is almost always ugly and our children's librarian has it, along with full sleeve and neck tattoos. My son is afraid to talk to her.


sounds like you instilled that fear in him


+1 Kids don't spontaneously develop fears about someone's appearance. It's a learned behavior.


Of course they do if they are not used to seeing it.
Anonymous
Post 06/11/2025 16:16     Subject: Re:I find Cynthia Erivo's nose ring so distracting
Just want to gently point out something that might be getting lost in this thread: when a group of mostly white women are picking apart the appearance of a Black woman, especially saying things like her nose is her 'worst feature' or that she looks 'gross', that veers into very loaded territory, whether folks realize it or not.

Black women’s noses, skin, hair, and bodies have been historically devalued and ridiculed in Western beauty standards. So when a white person says a Black woman’s wide nose is unattractive, it’s not just a style critique, it taps into a long and painful history of racism and dehumanization.

No one has to love every celebrity’s fashion choices, but maybe just… pause and consider why certain features get labeled as 'ugly' and who gets to decide what’s beautiful in the first place. Spoiler: It’s not a neutral playing field.

And also, Cynthia Erivo is literally an acclaimed, Tony-winning, Oscar-nominated actress. So maybe we could shift from 'she’s gross' to 'not my taste' and call it a day? And yes, I know there are posters in this thread who have done that, just simply said she's not my taste. This post is not for you.
Anonymous
Post 06/11/2025 16:15     Subject: I find Cynthia Erivo's nose ring so distracting
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I didn't like the movie, Wicked, and I think Cynthia is a good singer, but not attractive.


Yeah, I am not a fan of her in that role. I loved the book and like the musical. I find her Elphaba to be the wrong mix of vulnerability and steeliness. To be fair I'm just only so-so on Idina Menzel in the role, but at least I prefer her interpretations of the music. Nothing against Erivo's voice or acting -- I loved her in Harriet. Just wrong casting IMO (I like Ariana Grande even less, I think she's totally miscast and also don't think she's a good actress generally -- way too mannered and self-conscious).

I do not understand why people like that movie so much.


The book is sooo different than the musical! Bravo for being open to both.


Yeah, I read the book when it came out and loved it so of course wanted to see the musical. It is very different but if you tried to do a faithful adaptation of the book for the stage, it wouldn't work at all. I never mind when adaptations change stuff, though. That's the whole point, it's an adaptation. I don't always *like* the adaptation (sometimes I think it's too faithful!) but I don't mind the desire to change it and do something different.
Anonymous
Post 06/11/2025 16:11     Subject: I find Cynthia Erivo's nose ring so distracting
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I think this style of nose ring is almost always ugly and our children's librarian has it, along with full sleeve and neck tattoos. My son is afraid to talk to her.


sounds like you instilled that fear in him


+1 Kids don't spontaneously develop fears about someone's appearance. It's a learned behavior.


Certain style choices do make kids wary and you don't have to instill that in them. And I say that as someone with tattoos and piercings. Kids will shy away from someone with really aggressive styling and if you ask them why, they'll just say "I just don't like the way they looked."

My own kid didn't like my eyebrow piercing (I stopped wearing it as a result) and doesn't like some of my tattoos. She loves me and I certainly didn't teach her to be fearful of my own appearance. She's also afraid of dogs.

Most people understand that some of these style choices give off a "stay away" vibe. Sometimes that's precisely why people choose them, actually.
Anonymous
Post 06/11/2025 16:06     Subject: I find Cynthia Erivo's nose ring so distracting
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I didn't like the movie, Wicked, and I think Cynthia is a good singer, but not attractive.


Yeah, I am not a fan of her in that role. I loved the book and like the musical. I find her Elphaba to be the wrong mix of vulnerability and steeliness. To be fair I'm just only so-so on Idina Menzel in the role, but at least I prefer her interpretations of the music. Nothing against Erivo's voice or acting -- I loved her in Harriet. Just wrong casting IMO (I like Ariana Grande even less, I think she's totally miscast and also don't think she's a good actress generally -- way too mannered and self-conscious).

I do not understand why people like that movie so much.


The book is sooo different than the musical! Bravo for being open to both.
Anonymous
Post 06/11/2025 15:59     Subject: I find Cynthia Erivo's nose ring so distracting
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I think this style of nose ring is almost always ugly and our children's librarian has it, along with full sleeve and neck tattoos. My son is afraid to talk to her.


sounds like you instilled that fear in him


+1 Kids don't spontaneously develop fears about someone's appearance. It's a learned behavior.
Anonymous
Post 06/11/2025 13:31     Subject: I find Cynthia Erivo's nose ring so distracting
Anonymous wrote:I think this style of nose ring is almost always ugly and our children's librarian has it, along with full sleeve and neck tattoos. My son is afraid to talk to her.


sounds like you instilled that fear in him
Anonymous
Post 06/11/2025 12:36     Subject: I find Cynthia Erivo's nose ring so distracting
Anonymous wrote:I've never had an opinion on her but the wild unhinged-ness of this thread is making me a big fan of hers. Keep making them all hot and bothered Cynthia. I suspect the bizarre overreaction to her is a big part of why she loves her styling.


Your post is the most "unhinged" one on this thread so far.
Anonymous
Post 06/11/2025 11:57     Subject: I find Cynthia Erivo's nose ring so distracting
I've never had an opinion on her but the wild unhinged-ness of this thread is making me a big fan of hers. Keep making them all hot and bothered Cynthia. I suspect the bizarre overreaction to her is a big part of why she loves her styling.
Anonymous
Post 06/11/2025 09:16     Subject: I find Cynthia Erivo's nose ring so distracting
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:The ugliness in this thread is downright horrifying. You are talking about a human being, and a talented one at that.


You're acting like she has some kind of unfortunate disorder. She chooses to style herself to look like Nosferatu. I don't care for that style choice.


Exactly. This is not some kind of an infliction she has no control over.
Anonymous
Post 06/11/2025 09:15     Subject: I find Cynthia Erivo's nose ring so distracting
Anonymous wrote:The ugliness in this thread is downright horrifying. You are talking about a human being, and a talented one at that.


You're acting like she has some kind of unfortunate disorder. She chooses to style herself to look like Nosferatu. I don't care for that style choice.