Jonathan Bailey Has a Message for His School Bullies

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Jonathan Bailey is ready to take everyone who knew him down the Yellow Brick Road. 

The star of Wicked: For Good responded with grace to those who bullied him in high school for being gay, jokingly suggesting they probably now boast about knowing him.

Jonathan playfully shared with Justin Sylvester of TopMob News at the New York City premiere of Wicked on November 17th that some fans already have tickets for the first showing. He joked that when the song ‘For Good’ plays, they’ll be proud to say they knew the actor involved.

His past experiences helped him understand how relatable the story of Wicked—and the journeys of its characters, Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) and Glinda (Ariana Grande)—truly are.

He described it as something truly special, explaining that the story resonates with anyone who feels different or doesn’t fit conventional expectations. He said that’s the heart of Wicked – a story about feeling like an outsider, discovering who you are, and the strength that comes with it.

Jonathan also acknowledged his and Justin’s past selves, saying he believed their younger selves would be thrilled to see them achieving this now.

As a huge fan, I always felt there was a depth to Fiyero that wasn’t fully explored, and it was amazing to see the actor really lean into that when he played the role. He actually told me he initially expected Fiyero to be lighter, but discovered a much more serious side to the character, which was a really pleasant surprise for him – and honestly, for me too! It definitely came through in his performance.

He explained that it’s comforting to see characters start out as carefree and perhaps even a little thoughtless when they’re young. He suggested that Fiyero’s behavior might have been a way of protecting himself.

However, after his character met Elphaba, who challenges injustice and has a more compassionate and grounded perspective, he needed to evolve. As Jonathan explained, this led to a subtle act of defiance in the second film.

The 37-year-old actor, recently crowned People‘s Sexiest Man Alive, has announced a brief acting break. He’s been busy filming projects like Bridgerton, Jurassic World Rebirth, and the Wicked movies, and is looking forward to some time off.

He told British GQ in September that the last three years have been incredible and a whirlwind, as he’s been working consistently throughout that time.

You know, with everything going on these days, I’ve been thinking a lot about priorities. That’s why I’ve decided to take a step back from acting next year and really dedicate my energy to the Shameless Fund, the charity I started. It’s a passion project of mine – we partner with big brands to raise money for incredible non-profits that support the LGBTQ+ community here in the U.K. and around the world. It just feels like the right thing to do right now.

“Over the next few months, I’ll be focusing on staffing and making sure we get all the right people in all the right places,” he shared. “There’s this statistic: out of every £100 raised in the U.K., only 1 [penny] goes to the LGBTQ+ community. You really have to dig to find solutions, and I genuinely think The Shameless Fund is exactly that.”

Even though he’s stepped back from working on screens, Jonathan is very thankful for everything he’s achieved in his career.

He recently told People magazine that looking back on his journey is amazing, but he never imagined he’d achieve his dreams. He said, ‘You get to a point where you look back and you go, ‘Wow,’ but you never for a second think that’s where you’re headed. You know, to be able to do things that you dream of.’

Wicked: For Good flies into theaters Nov. 21. 

For more stars making their own magic at the NYC premiere, keep reading.

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2025-11-18 03:47