Posted on by

Cynthia Erivo criticizes fan-made ‘Wicked’ poster: ‘Deeply hurtful’

Cynthia Erivo criticizes fan-made ‘Wicked’ poster: ‘Deeply hurtful’

play

Cynthia Erivo criticizes “deeply hurtful” fan art that obscures her face in promotional material for the upcoming film adaptation of “Wicked.”

After sharing impressively lifelike fan illustrations on her Instagram Story on Wednesday, Erivo prompted a fan edit that got on her nerves. In an altered version of a promotional poster for the film, Ariana Grande’s Glinda whispers in the ear of Elphaba, also known as Erivo, whose face is hidden beneath her witch hat.

Although the real poster features Erivo staring into the camera, the edited image is more consistent with Broadway musical art.

“This is the wildest and most offensive thing I’ve ever seen, comparable to this horrible AI of us fighting…” Erivo wrote on her Instagram Story above the edited “Wicked” poster. “None of this is funny. None of it is sweet. It humiliates me. It demeans us.”

The “AI of Us Fighting” is a computer-generated clip that transforms Grande and Erivo’s “Wicked” poster poses into the two punches they throw at each other. She also referenced another meme, which is a joke about Elphaba’s genitals, that has been circulating for some time.

“The original poster is an ILLUSTRATION,” she added. “I am a real human being who has chosen to look directly through the camera at you, the viewer… because without words, we communicate with our eyes. Our poster is a tribute, not an imitation, to edit my face “Hiding my eyes is to erase me. And that’s just deeply hurtful.”

Erivo followed up with the real movie poster “to remind you and cleanse your palate.”

Director Jon M. Chu showed his support for the Grammy, Tony and Emmy winner on his Instagram Story. He screenshotted Erivo’s statement with the correct image and wrote, “♥♥♥ @cynthiaerivo is my superhero ♥♥♥.”

Cynthia Erivo felt “very protective” of Elphaba.

During the “Wicked” presentation at CinemaCon in April, Erivo explained that the iconic characters Elphaba and Glinda are “two roles that were so central to our lives and meant the most to us.”

Grande added that they both felt the responsibility and “poured out our hearts, our souls, as many lashes and wands and gave it all we could.”

“I just have to take it one day at a time,” Erivo told USA TODAY earlier this year of perhaps her highest-profile role yet. “I hope people see themselves in the film and realize that it’s fantastic not to belong. For me that is the main goal of this film. I loved playing (Elphaba). I felt very protective of her.”

At the urging of her Oscar-winning co-star Michelle Yeoh, Erivo also hinted at pursuing a career in directing.

Watch the trailer for “Wicked”: Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo sing “Popular” and “Defying Gravity”

“(Yeoh) happened to ask me, ‘So when are you going to start directing?’ ” said Erivo. “My head blew up because I didn’t mention anything; I’m green at that moment. And she was like, ‘I can see it.’ So if Michelle Yeoh thinks that of me – and she’s worked with everyone – maybe I need to seriously think about it.”

In the prequel “The Wizard of Oz,” Elphaba (Erivo) – who is not yet the Wicked Witch of the West – arrives at Shiz University and clashes with the popular girl Glinda (Grande). Because of her green skin, Elphaba is an outsider in society, but has tons of potential when it comes to magic. The two very different young people have a budding friendship and Elphaba takes Glinda with her to Oz when she is summoned by the not-so-wonderful wizard (Jeff Goldblum).

This is just the beginning of their story, which will be told in two big-budget musical films. “Wicked” hits theaters on November 22nd and the second “Wicked” chapter is scheduled for November 26th, 2025.

Contributor: Brian Truitt