Cynthia Erivo, the star of the highly anticipated “Wicked” film, has caused much debate after responding to a controversial fan edit of the film’s poster.
The musical, which will be released in November, is already generating buzz due to its star-studded cast, which includes Ariana Grande, Michelle Yeoh, Jeff Goldblum, and Jonathon Bailey.
The film is based on the popular Broadway show and Gregory Maguire’s novel “Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West.”
As excitement grows, a particular cut of one of the film’s promotional posters caught the interest of both fans and Erivo.
The original poster shows Erivo as Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West, peering directly into the camera while Grande’s Glinda whispers in her ear.
The graphic was created to pay respect to the legendary Broadway production’s artwork, which is now instantly recognizable.
However, several fans believed that the poster failed to capture the essence of the original stage illustration, so they decided to take affairs into their own hands.
One fan edit attempted to make the movie poster more like the Broadway version by covering Erivo’s eyes with the brim of Elphaba’s hat as well as giving her lips a bright red smirk.
This edit, which was shared online by various fan accounts, provoked outrage and heated arguments across social media sites.
Many fans appreciated the edit, considering it a tribute to the popular musical, while others slammed it for manipulating the film’s advertising materials.
Erivo, on the other hand, was less enthusiastic about the revised poster and expressed dissatisfaction with how her image had been altered.
She turned to social media to respond to the fan edit, writing, “This is the wildest, most offensive thing I have seen.”
The actor stressed how crucial it was for her to connect with the viewers using the original image.
She stated, “The original poster is an illustration. I am a real-life human being, who chose to look right down the barrel of the camera to you, the viewer.”
“To edit my face and hide my eyes is to erase me. And that is just deeply hurtful,” she added, indicating that the changes had had an emotional impact.
Her comments did not end there. Erivo went on to compare the modified poster’s offensiveness to other dangerous internet memes and AI-generated content that were spreading.
She made reference to harsh remarks about Elphaba’s appearance as well as an AI-generated movie depicting a hypothetical battle between her and Ariana Grande.
“None of this is funny. None of it is cute. It degrades me. It degrades us,” she remarked, emphasizing how disrespected actors might feel when fans take creative liberties with their material.
While many fans sympathized with and supported Erivo’s attitude, not all of them agreed.
Some believed that the fan-edited poster was simply an attempt to pay tribute to the Broadway version and was not intended to be insulting.
The critics claimed Erivo had “overreacted,” describing the cut as innocent and more of an homage to the stage presentation than a personal attack.
Despite this ideological split, Erivo’s emotional response struck a chord with others, particularly those who recognized the power and significance of representation in art.
Only after the fan edits went viral did Erivo break her quiet and share her feelings with her followers.
In addition to discussing the poster revisions, Erivo posted an unedited version of the original movie poster on Instagram, adding, “Let me put this right here, to remind you and cleanse your palette.”
The “Wicked” film is still on track for release, with the first chapter set to open on November 22, 2024.
The picture will be split into two parts, although rumors have circulated online that Universal may release it as a single film.
For now, supporters are left to speculate—and ponder on the recent controversy sparked by Erivo’s intense statements.
Featured Image Credit: (Instagram/@cynthiaerivo) (Universal Pictures)
