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.

Cynthia Erivo’s reaction to critics of her “Jesus Christ Superstar” casting is simply divine. Asked about the outcry over tapping a queer, Black woman to play the musical’s Messiah, she told Billboard,

Conservatives, including a pastor, have called the casting of Erivo, a queer Black woman, "blasphemy."Cynthia Erivo is rising above the crucifixion of her casting as Jesus in the upcoming production of Jesus Christ Superstar.