The 'Genius: Aretha' actress fiercely calls out a fan-edited poster of the upcoming film adaptation of 'Wicked' that obscures her eyes, deeming it offensive and harmful.
- October 17, 2024
AceShowbiz - Cynthia Erivo, the Tony Award-winning actress, has vehemently denounced a fan-edited version of the new "Wicked" movie poster, which she considers deeply offensive. The original poster, released by Universal Pictures, features Erivo as Elphaba staring directly at the camera, while Ariana Grande's Glinda whispers into her ear.
However, some fans took umbrage with the poster's departure from the original Broadway artwork, leading them to edit the image to conceal Erivo's eyes, replace her green lipstick with red, and alter her expression.
Erivo condemned these edits via her Instagram Story, stating, "This is the wildest, most offensive thing I have seen... It degrades me. It degrades us." She emphasized that the movie poster is an homage and not an imitation, and that altering her face and hiding her eyes amounts to erasure.
The actress further compared the edits to a previously viral AI-generated video depicting a fight between her and Grande, as well as a past meme mocking her character's green skin tone. She asserted, "None of this is funny. None of it is cute."
Erivo's response has been met with support from director Jon M. Chu, who reposted her comments, calling her a "superhero." Ariana Grande also subtly endorsed Erivo's stance by sharing the original, unedited poster on her own Instagram Story.
Despite the controversy, "Wicked" is set to hit theaters in two parts, with the first installment releasing on November 22. Erivo has praised the adaptation's decision to split the production, allowing for a more in-depth exploration of Elphaba and Glinda's transformative friendship.
