Adam Lambert and Cynthia Erivo Amy Sussman/Getty Images, Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions Share on Facebook Share on X Share to Flipboard Send an Email Show additional share options Share on LinkedIn Share on Pinterest Share on Reddit Share on Tumblr Share on Whats App Print the Article Post a Comment Adam Lambert is championing Cynthia Erivo in Jesus Christ Superstar, despite backlash surrounding her casting as the titular role. In Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's musical, the Tony Award winner portrayed Jesus alongside the American Idol alum as Judas at the Hollywood Bowl for the first three nights of August. When news of Erivo's casting was announced, it was criticized because she is a Black queer woman. However, Lambert doesn't share the same concerns, and admitted in an interview with Billboard that he was "excited by the challenge" of the Oscar nominee leading Jesus Christ Superstar. Related Stories Lifestyle How to Get Seats to Cynthia Erivo's Sold-Out 'Jesus Christ Superstar' This Weekend at Hollywood Bowl Movies Cynthia Erivo, Michael Bay Tackling Adaptation of Sci-Fi Thriller 'Saturation Point' for Universal "Cynthia's brilliant. Her voice, presence, and simultaneous power and vulnerability absolutely blows my mind and working with her has been a dream," he said. "I'm excited by the challenge of presenting the audience with a production led by a female, Black 'Jesus' and encourage the audience to expand their minds a bit." Lambert added, "Originally utilizing rock and roll, Jesus Christ Superstar is supposed to provoke and challenge, that's the point. And shouldn't the teachings of Jesus transcend gender?" The Wicked star previously responded to the backlash of her being cast as Jesus in the musical in a June interview with Billboard. "You can't please everyone," Erivo said. "It is legitimately a three-day performance at the Hollywood Bowl where I get to sing my face off. So hopefully they will come and realize, 'Oh, it's a musical, the gayest place on Earth.'" Jesus Christ Superstar kicked off its consecutive three-day run at the Hollywood Bowl on Friday night. Erivo will next been seen on the silver screen in the highly anticipated Wicked: For Good, the followup to Jon M. Chu's Wicked, on Nov. 21. THR Newsletters Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day Subscribe Sign Up George R.R. Martin George R.R. Martin's Real Kingdom? A Faraway Land Called Santa Fe Tech This New Screen-Free Video Camera Gives Retro Film Enthusiasts the Best of Both Digital and Analog Worlds tickets How to Stream KCON L.A. Online for Free and Find Last-Minute Tickets Tom Holland Tom Holland Swings His Way to Prada Partnership as Face of New Paradigme Fragrance Sydney Sweeney American Eagle Responds to Sydney Sweeney Jeans Campaign Amid Controversy Weapons Liam Neeson and Pamela Anderson Debut 'The Naked Gun,' 'Weapons' Arrives and This Week's Best Events George R.R. Martin George R.R. Martin's Real Kingdom? A Faraway Land Called Santa Fe Tech This New Screen-Free Video Camera Gives Retro Film Enthusiasts the Best of Both Digital and Analog Worlds tickets How to Stream KCON L.A. Online for Free and Find Last-Minute Tickets Tom Holland Tom Holland Swings His Way to Prada Partnership as Face of New Paradigme Fragrance Sydney Sweeney American Eagle Responds to Sydney Sweeney Jeans Campaign Amid Controversy Weapons Liam Neeson and Pamela Anderson Debut 'The Naked Gun,' 'Weapons' Arrives and This Week's Best Events