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As the release date for the highly anticipated film adaptation of Wicked draws near—just a month away—exciting promotional efforts are ramping up around the globe.
Amidst the buzz, Cynthia Erivo, who stars in the film, has taken to social media in response to a controversial edited poster that has gone viral, describing it as both ‘offensive’ and ‘degrading’.
This issue resonates not only with her but also with her co-star, Ariana Grande.
While this isn’t the first time they faced criticism, the issues are being voiced more openly than before.
Cynthia Erivo Responds to Altered ‘WICKED’ Poster
“This is the most outrageous and offensive thing I’ve encountered.”
Erivo, who portrays Elphaba in the movie adaptation, expressed her dissatisfaction regarding an altered version of the film’s poster via Instagram. In the original, Cynthia is depicted wearing Elphaba’s signature witch’s hat and has a striking green face looking directly at the camera.
However, the modified version obscures Cynthia’s face and eyes beneath the hat’s brim. This alteration struck a chord with her, prompting her strong reaction. “None of this is funny or cute. It degrades me and all of us,” she stated in her Instagram Stories.
This statement left many fans puzzled, as some viewed the edit merely as a tribute to the original musical’s poster.
Cynthia Erivo reacts to the viral edits of the ‘WICKED’ poster:
“This is the most outrageous, most offensive thing I’ve seen, comparable to that ridiculous AI-generated image of us fighting, equal to people asking, ‘is your ***** green?’ None of this is funny, none of it is cute. It degrades me.” pic.twitter.com/r8xuox97DL
— Pop Tingz (@ThePopTingz) October 16, 2024
Alterations Under Scrutiny
Recently, a TikTok user named Ferlozar shared a video presenting their version of the “fixed” WICKED movie poster.
Through digital editing, they aimed to make the film poster resemble the classic artwork originally used for the musical’s Playbills. However, they did not modify Ariana’s outfit in keeping with the original illustrations, which depicted Glinda in white.
For Erivo, this felt like an intentional jab rather than an improvement, expressing, “This is the wildest, most offensive thing I have seen—equal to that awful AI image of us fighting, equal to people posing the question ‘is your **** green?’”
She elaborated, addressing the concern from fans who suggested the edits were simply to mirror the original design. “The original poster is an ILLUSTRATION. I’m a real person, who opted to look directly at the camera to connect with you, the viewer…” She emphasized the importance of conveying community through eye contact.
In closing, she asserted, “Our poster is an homage, not an imitation. Altering my face and hiding my eyes feels like a deliberate erasure of me, which is deeply upsetting.”
Initial Impressions of the ‘Wicked’ Movie
Regardless of whether the TikTok creator meant to be hurtful or was simply unaware, this situation likely won’t hold significant weight when Wicked finally premieres on November 22.
Cynthia Erivo’s performance will undoubtedly be at the forefront of discussions as the film is released!
While detailed reviews are still limited, as the studio is maintaining a tight grip on spoilers, those who attended early screenings have taken to platforms like TikTok and Reddit to share their initial thoughts.
Some viewers express concerns about a lack of “expanded plot” that justifies adapting the Broadway musical into two films. Although the stage show has two acts, some feel this does not inherently translate to film.
On the optimistic side, numerous viewers have praised the film as “excellent” and an “instant classic,” with one audience member claiming it could be a significant contender for major awards.
We look forward to providing more insights once critics are permitted to share their reviews!
Read more about this topic:
Cynthia Erivo Slams Viral ‘Wicked’ Poster As ‘Offensive’
