British actress Cynthia Erivo, who stars alongside Ariana Grande in the upcoming musical drama “Wicked,” caused controversy with recent comments about her struggles with being addressed by the correct pronouns during the GLAAD Media Awards.

At the event held at the Beverly Hilton, Erivo was honored with the Stephen F. Kolzak Award, recognizing her contributions to the LGBTQ+ community. During her acceptance speech, Erivo openly discussed the difficulty of consistently having to remind others to use her preferred pronouns, “they/them.”

“This journey has been incredibly challenging,” Erivo admitted. “We often speak about the empowerment of being your authentic self, but rarely do we talk about how difficult it truly is. Constantly reminding people how to address you and dealing with the frustration when they don’t use the pronouns that affirm your identity is not easy.”

The actress described “they/them” pronouns poetically, saying they represent “a person who is simply more.” She highlighted the emotional toll taken by repeatedly correcting others, emphasizing the need for basic dignity and respect. “Asking people to treat you with dignity should be automatic, yet it’s something we must continually request,” Erivo explained.

Despite her intention to highlight the emotional challenges faced by nonbinary and gender-diverse individuals, her comments sparked immediate backlash online. Critics accused Erivo of suggesting those who use nonbinary pronouns are “superior” or “more than” others, triggering heated debates across social media platforms.

Erivo concluded her speech by urging those present to recognize and guide others struggling with their identity, saying: “We are all visible and worthy of respect. I encourage you all to use your positions to help those who just need a little more understanding.”