After facing backlash from fans and receiving support from her costars,Wickedstar Cynthia Erivo opens up about her response to the viral poster edit. Earlier this month, theElphaba star gave a heated response to a viral AI-generated posterthat made the movie’s promotional material look like the original poster for the Broadway musical. Specifically, the fan edit obscured her eyes, which were looking at the camera, a creative choice by Erivo to communicate with the audience. She called the fan-made poster offensive and deeply harmful.WickedcostarAriana Grande (Glinda) offered her support to Erivo but also acknowledged the complexity of the situation.
Speaking withEntertainment Tonight, Erivo opened up about her response to the fan-made poster, explaining why she reacted the way she did. TheWickedstar said thatthe heated response was prompted by her passion, acknowledging that the fans are also passionate and that she was being protective of her character. She then called it a “human moment” and said she probably should have phoned a friend instead. Read her comments below:
It wasn’t necessarily a clapback.
Because I think I’m really protective of the role and just as, I’m passionate, I am passionate about it, and I know that the fans are passionate about it, and I think for me, it was just like a human moment of, like, wanting to protect little Elphaba. And that was like a human moment. I probably should have called my friends.
What This Means For Wicked
It’s Unclear How Drastic Erivo’s Comments May Have Hurt The Movie
The response fromtheWickedstarcomes after unshakable backlash from fans.Some audiences, who know the Broadway play well,considered her response extremeand even went so far as to say that they wouldn’t be seeing the movie. The fan who made the poster released their own statement, saying that Erivo’s emotions regarding the poster are valid, before saying that their decision to keep the poster up is also valid. As Grande said, the situation is complicated, not just because of the use of AI, but because of the misunderstood intentions of each party involved.
Wicked’s Timeline & When It Takes Place Compared To The Wizard Of Oz Explained
Wicked isn’t exactly a conventional prequel, which makes it difficult for fans to place the story within the original Wizard of Oz timeline.
It’s hard to say how this controversy will affect the film’s box office draw, which is already drawing great presale ticket records just a month before the movie’s release. Early projectionsalso indicate that the movie could make as much as $100-120 millionon its domestic opening weekend. While the comment may have stung some audiences who wanted to honor the movie’s release, it’s unlikely to hurt the opening weekend with such drastic measures.
Our Take On Cynthia Erivo’s Comments
It Makes Sense Why Erivo Made Those Comments
Erivo’s response reinforced that the relationship between artists and AI is complex. I agree with Grande’s opinion that AI can be conflicting and troublesome. In this case, I can see where Erivo’s coming from, as theprocess of obscuring her can be seen as a way of editing her out of the poster. However, I don’t think that was the intent of the fan who made the edit, who was probably in their mind making a simple change to make the new poster resemble the original even more.
She should be allowed to express her emotions and should be able to respond how she wants.
While it’s admirable that Erivo admitted that she made her passionate response in the heat of the moment, it’s also disheartening because it seems like the backlash she received took a toll on her. She should be allowed to express her emotions and should be able to respond how she wants. What makes things complicated, however, is that fans should also have the right to make the fan art they want, as long as the good intentions are there. All controversy aside, the situation serves as an exhibition of her passion forWickedand might ultimately help ticket saleswhen the film hits theaters this November.
Wicked
Cast
Wicked adapts the Broadway musical into a two-part film, following the unlikely friendship between Elphaba, born with green skin, and Glinda, a popular aristocrat, in the Land of Oz. As they navigate their contrasting paths, they evolve into Glinda the Good and the Wicked Witch of the West.
