Cynthia Erivo recently called out a fan-edited “Wicked” poster online, describing it as “offensive” and “deeply hurtful.” The official poster for the upcoming movie, set to be released in November, was shared by Universal Pictures earlier this month. The image features Ariana Grande’s character, Glinda, whispering to Erivo’s character, Elphaba. The poster differs from the Broadway version with changes like showing Elphaba’s eyes by lifting her hat and altering her lipstick color from red to green. Online buzz around the musical led to various alterations of the poster, including one that covered Elphaba’s eyes, which prompted Erivo to speak out.
Erivo took to her Instagram story to express her disappointment with the edited poster, stating that “to edit my face and hide my eyes is to erase me.” She emphasized that the original Broadway poster was an illustration not based on real actors, but that in the film version, showing her face was a deliberate choice. Erivo explained that as a real-life human being, eye contact with the audience is a form of communication, and altering the poster in such a way was incredibly hurtful to her. She condemned the edited version, comparing it to other offensive AI-created memes circulating online related to the film.
The offensive memes in question included images of Grande and Erivo’s characters punching each other, as well as one depicting Grande’s character making an inappropriate comment about the color of Erivo’s genitals matching her green skin. Erivo expressed her shock and disgust at these images, reiterating the harm caused by such disrespectful and dehumanizing portrayals. In a subsequent Instagram story, she shared the unedited version of the film’s poster as a reminder and a way to “cleanse” the negativity left by the altered versions.
“Wicked,” directed by Jon M. Chu, is scheduled to hit theaters on November 22nd, featuring a star-studded cast including Michelle Yeoh, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Bowen Yang, Erivo, and Grande. The movie adaptation of the popular Broadway musical has generated significant interest and discussion online leading to various fan interpretations and creations. Erivo’s public response to the edited poster and related memes highlights the importance of respecting and recognizing the humanity of actors and the impact of misrepresentation and harmful imagery in media. Through her statements, she advocates for integrity in representation and pushes back against offensive and derogatory content.
