Cynthia Erivo’s Publisher Acknowledges Oversight in Memoir, Ariana Grande Quotes Missing Credit
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Cynthia Erivo, the celebrated actress and singer, recently released her memoir, “Simply More: A Book for Anyone Who Has Been Told They’re Too Much”. However, the book’s publisher, Flatiron Books, a division of Macmillan, has come under scrutiny after fans noticed a lack of attribution for quotes originally spoken by Ariana Grande in a December 2024 interview.
Flatiron Books addressed the issue in a statement to The Washington Post, admitting that they had “inadvertently” left out Ariana Grande’s name in the memoir. The oversight was regarding verbatim quotes from Grande’s interview, which were mistakenly included in Erivo’s book without proper credit.
The memoir, which hit bookstores on November 18th, features a passage that closely mirrors statements made by Grande during her conversation with French content creator and journalist, Sally, nearly a year earlier. The similarities between the two sets of quotes did not go unnoticed by fans, including one astute reader who raised the issue with the publisher.
One particular passage in the book reads, “I’ve been a specimen in a petri dish since I was a teenager. I’ve heard it all, every version of what’s wrong with me. And when I fix it, then it’s wrong for different reasons. Maybe you’ve felt the same?” These words bear a striking resemblance to Grande’s remarks from the 2024 interview, where she shared similar sentiments about her experiences with scrutiny and criticism.
Grande’s interview touched on themes of body image, societal expectations, and the harmful impact of unsolicited comments on one’s appearance. The inclusion of these themes in Erivo’s memoir without proper acknowledgment of Grande’s original words has sparked a discussion about intellectual property and proper citation in published works.
In response to the oversight, Flatiron Books has taken swift action to rectify the mistake. They have updated the book file to include the correct attribution to Grande and have committed to ensuring that future printings and formats of the book will reflect the necessary credit.
The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of crediting sources and respecting intellectual property rights in the creative industry. As fans and critics alike continue to dissect the nuances of Erivo’s memoir, the publisher’s handling of the situation will be closely scrutinised for its adherence to ethical standards in publishing.
Both Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande have yet to publicly comment on the matter, but the broader conversation around plagiarism, attribution, and artistic integrity is likely to persist in literary circles for some time. This incident underscores the need for transparency and accountability in storytelling, ensuring that all voices are properly acknowledged and recognised for their contributions.