Cynthia Erivo, star of the upcoming Wicked movie adaptation, recently found herself in the middle of a social media firestorm over… a fan-made poster.
When Erivo shared her strong opinion on the fan edit, calling it the “most offensive thing,” her reaction quickly split Wicked fans between defending their creative freedom and standing by Erivo’s concerns.
For some quick background, Erivo is set to play Elphaba opposite Ariana Grande’s Glinda in Wicked, which has been the talk of the Wizard of Oz-obsessed crowd.
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This is no small gig. Based on Gregory Maguire’s novel, Wicked explores Elphaba’s journey as the misunderstood, green-skinned woman who challenges the status quo. It’s a story about identity, prejudice, and — fittingly — respect.
So, what kicked off this whole Wicked saga?
On October 16, Erivo shared an image on Instagram Stories of a fan-created poster that reimagined the classic Broadway illustration. Her reaction was less than pleased. She didn’t mince words, calling it “wild” and “the most offensive thing.”
Yikes.
Erivo didn’t stop there.
Embed from Getty ImagesIn the story, she explained her frustration, writing, “None of this is funny. None of it is cute. It degrades me. It degrades us.” A strong statement, yes, but one that got her point across.
Her issue with the poster is that it covered most of her face.
Embed from Getty ImagesSpecifically, the fan poster covered her eyes — eyes that she sees as a powerful, silent connection with the audience. In Erivo’s words: “The original poster is an ILLUSTRATION. I am a real life human being…to edit my face and hide my eyes is to erase me.”
Naturally, the internet had feelings about Ervio’s comments.
Embed from Getty ImagesSome fans supported Erivo’s stance, appreciating her honesty and her dedication to accurately portraying Elphaba. But of course, not everyone agreed. Many thought she overreacted to harmless fan art.
“It’s just a fan edit,” some users argued, rolling their digital eyes.
Embed from Getty ImagesAnd yet, others saw her point. One Twitter user put it bluntly, saying, “For a story about prejudice and the color of a young woman’s skin, the disrespect couldn’t be clearer. You do not deserve this film.”
Ariana Grande weighed in too, telling Variety that she understands the passion among Wicked fans, but fully supports her “sister” Cynthia.
Embed from Getty ImagesGrande added, “This is something bigger than us… It’s an adjustment period, and the fans are going to make their edits.”
Wise words from Glinda.
Erivo, meanwhile, has since admitted she might’ve overreacted.
Embed from Getty ImagesAt the CFDA Fashion Awards, she reflected, “I probably should have called my friends, but it’s fine.” A relatable response if there ever was one, right? Sometimes venting to friends is easier than sharing on Instagram.
Love it or hate it, Erivo’s response has sparked a larger conversation about representation.
Embed from Getty ImagesWill this stop fans from making edits? Probably not. But at least it’s reminded folks that actors are people too — with feelings.
Wicked will be in theatres on November 22.
Last Updated on October 30, 2024 by Sarah Kester
