Cynthia Erivo, who portrays Elphaba in the highly anticipated Wicked film adaptation, has voiced her frustration over fan-made memes and edits of the movie’s poster. She expressed that these altered versions “degrade” and “erase” her role in the film.
Fan Edits of “Wicked” Poster Draw Criticism
Earlier this month, fans took creative liberties with the latest Wicked movie poster, which shows Ariana Grande as Glinda whispering while Erivo’s Elphaba looks ahead. Some fans re-edited the poster to mimic the musical’s original logo, where Glinda whispers into Elphaba’s ear, with the latter’s eyes obscured by her iconic black hat. In contrast, the official poster features Erivo’s full face, clearly visible.
Many fans praised the re-edited versions as an “improvement,” but Erivo found them offensive. She took to Instagram on Wednesday, calling the alterations “the wildest, most offensive thing I have seen.”
“Our poster is an homage, not an imitation,” Erivo stated. “To edit my face and hide my eyes is to erase me, and that is just deeply hurtful.”
Memes and AI Videos Also Targeted by Erivo
In her Instagram story, Erivo also addressed other fan content circulating online, including memes and an AI-generated video showing a fictional fight between her and Grande, as well as a crude joke about Elphaba’s anatomy.
“None of this is funny. None of this is cute,” Erivo wrote. “It degrades me. It degrades us.”
Support from Director and Co-Star
Following Erivo’s comments, both Ariana Grande and Wicked director Jon M. Chu showed their support. They, along with Erivo, re-shared the official poster on their Instagram stories. Chu praised Erivo, calling her “(his) superhero” in his own story.
Mixed Reactions Ahead of Wicked’s Release
As anticipation builds for the release of the Wicked adaptation, fans have responded with a mix of humor and criticism. Some have expressed confusion over the movie’s trailers, questioning why they downplay the film’s musical nature and the fact that it is the first installment of a two-part series. The first film, set to be released on November 22, will cover the first act of the musical, including the iconic song “Defying Gravity.” The second part is slated for release in November 2025.
Despite the memes and jokes, Erivo’s message serves as a reminder of the importance of respecting the work and contributions of the cast and creators behind the highly anticipated film.
