The Color Purple star Cynthia Erivo has opened up about her coming out journey in a new interview. Back in July, the Wicked star surprised fans when she publically came out as bisexual in the August issue of British Vogue. “[LGBTQ+ people] still feel the need to be constantly justifying why we deserve to be treated as equal beings when really the only difference is that we love differently and we express ourselves differently,” she told the publication. “Rather than being chastised for that, we should be commended for being brave.
That’s the most important thing: giving people the space to show up fully as who they are.” Shortly after the issue was released, Erivo took to Instagram to celebrate the occasion in a heartwarming post. “Nerves and fear have gotten in the way of sharing all of who I am, and today with #pride and with wonderful people beside me, I’m sharing a little more,” she wrote.
Two months after her landmark announcement, the Grammy winner gave further insight into her journey during her recent appearance on The Kelly Clarkson Show. “I don’t think I had the language to even know what was going on.
It’s come much later to me now and it’s wonderful to just be me, really,” she explained. “I think it’s sort of made space creatively to just sort of let go of whatever I was hiding.