Cole Escola has addressed the wave of speculation that followed their offhand remark in the Tony Awards press room, clarifying that the comment made about Nicole Scherzinger’s win was purely a joke and not intended to spark any tension. The moment, which saw Escola quip, “Who is it? Nicole? Wow. The speculating is over. Wow. Four years. Four more years,” went viral almost instantly, with some corners of the internet misinterpreting it as a dig at Scherzinger. However, Escola has since taken to Instagram to explain the humor behind the remark, comparing a Broadway win to a presidential term and noting how absurd it was meant to sound.
In their explanation, Escola highlighted the tendency of online culture to manufacture rivalries, especially among women and queer performers in the spotlight. “People just want to pit us Broadway gals against each other,” they wrote, adding, “I think it’s sad.” Their words cut through the noise with a calm honesty that underlined how a celebratory night had been briefly skewed by unnecessary drama. Far from being competitors, Escola and Scherzinger were later seen beaming together backstage with their Tony Awards in hand, and even partied at the same after-event — a strong show of unity that dispelled any lingering whispers of a feud.
Rather than let the moment spiral, both performers have kept their focus on the joy of recognition and the work that got them there. For Escola, whose historic win marked a milestone in Broadway’s evolution, and for Scherzinger, whose powerful portrayal in Sunset Boulevard brought her widespread acclaim, the night was clearly about more than a misunderstood comment. As Escola pointed out, sometimes people are too eager to turn genuine excitement into rivalry. Thankfully, their candid clarification made clear that the Broadway stage still has plenty of room for mutual respect and shared celebration.
