Cynthia Erivo Responds to Dax Shepard's TMI Question About Wiping with Long Nails

Cynthia Erivo, star of Wicked, confidently addressed Dax Shepard’s provocative question regarding her long nails. During the November 18 episode of the Armchair Expert podcast, Shepard asked if her lengthy manicure affected her ability to wipe after using the bathroom. Erivo quickly asserted, "I'm a functioning adult."

When Dax framed his inquiry as "really crazy" and "inappropriate," Erivo knew precisely what he was getting at. This question, she explained, is not uncommon. She quipped, "Everybody asks that question, and my answer is that nobody uses just their fingers to wipe their backside."

When she prompted Dax, asking if he used tissue, he confirmed. Cynthia elaborated that when using toilet paper, it contacts "the pads of the fingers," which prevents her from feeling her nails, dispelling common assumptions. "I fold," she added, highlighting her method.

Erivo expressed frustration at the constant speculation around her nails and bathroom habits. "I'm annoyed by it," she confided to Dax. While acknowledging the curiosity, she emphasized, "I'm a functioning adult and I've never walked around smelling like — you know."

Cynthia assured listeners that she wipes "very well," regardless of nail length. Jokingly, she pointed out, "There are people who do not have nails who need to check how they're wiping."

Dax Shepard has never been shy about sharing his perspectives on hygiene. He notably sparked debate when he shared that he and wife Kristen Bell often let their daughters go "sometimes five, six days" without baths. The former Parenthood star stated, "We bathed our children every single night — prior to bed is like the routine."

Kristen chimed in with her logic, explaining her strategy of waiting for a scent to decide on a bath. "Once you catch a whiff, that's biology's way of letting you know you need to clean it up," she remarked. Their nonchalant approach seems rooted in taking a relaxed perspective on cleanliness.