Dax Shepard Asks Cynthia Erivo If Her Talon Nails Get in the Way When 'Wiping' — and She Shuts Him Down Like a Boss

Mar. 15, 2025

Cynthia Erivo (left) and Dax Shepard (right).Photo:Kevin Mazur/ Getty; Charley Gallay/Getty

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 14: Cynthia Erivo attends the New York special screening of WICKED presented by Universal Pictures at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City at Museum of Modern Art on November 14, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Kevin Mazur/ Getty Images for Universal Pictures)LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 23: Dax Shepard attends the SuperMotocross World Championship Finals Celebrity Night at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on September 23, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. This event caps off the inaugural 31 event championship. (Photo by Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Feld Entertainment)

Kevin Mazur/ Getty; Charley Gallay/Getty

Cynthia Erivodoesn’t thinkher talon nailsget in the way of her bathroom duties.

While appearing onArmchair ExpertwithDax Shepardand Monica Padman to discussWicked, Shepard asked Erivo, 37, if her long talon nails make it difficult to wipe her behind after going to the bathroom. Before Shepard, 49, even finished asking the question, the Oscar nominee knew exactly what was coming.

“I knew you would ask that question,” she said, adding that “no one’s afraid” to ask it.

“My answer is that nobody uses just their fingers to wipe their backside,” Erivo continued. “You use tissue, correct? And you wipe!”

Cynthia Erivo on Nov. 14.James Devaney/GC Images

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 14: Cynthia Erivo arrives to the after-party of the NYC premiere of “Wicked” at Museum of Modern Art on November 14, 2024 in New York City.

James Devaney/GC Images

Shepard then rephrased his question. “Does the tissue go on the tip of the fingernails, or do you try to get the tissue…” he said before trailing off. “Pads of the fingers,” Erivo said.

“Great, great, great, now we’re getting somewhere,” Shepard said. “Then you’re just feeling the little tickle of the nails on the crack of your butt sometimes?”

Erivo said this was not the case because she uses tissues.

LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 18: Cynthia Erivo attends the “Wicked: Part One” UK Premiere at The Royal Festival Hall on November 18, 2024 in London, England.

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Shepard felt that because everyone thinks Erivo smells “so good, it begs the question, ‘How are you wiping your tush?’ “

“Very well,” Erivo said, as Padman, 37, explained that the question is likely a reflection of the people asking because they couldn’t properly wipe with nails like Erivo’s.

“Here’s the thing, there are people who do not have nails who need to check how they’re wiping,” Erivo said.

Before moving on to the next subject, Erivo joked that people ask her how she gets anything done with her nails. “And I’m like, ‘I mean, I’m here!’ “ she said. “I’m dressed.”

Cynthia Erivo on Nov. 14.Kevin Mazur/ Getty

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 14: Cynthia Erivo attends the New York special screening of WICKED presented by Universal Pictures at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City at Museum of Modern Art on November 14, 2024 in New York City

Kevin Mazur/ Getty

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Erivo’s talon nails have been on display during her tour to promoteWickedalongsideAriana Grande. The two often wear designs that reflect their onscreen characters, with Erivo channeling Elphaba and Grande bringingGlindato life.

Wickedopens on Friday, Nov. 22. The second part,Wicked Part Two, opens on Nov. 21, 2025. Jon M. Chu directed the movie, which costarsJonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Ethan Slater, Marissa Bode, Bowen Yang, Bronwyn James and Keala Settle.

source: people.com