Wicked has become one of the most anticipated movies to release in 2024, with film stars such as Ariana Grande as Glinda, Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba, and many more. The film is set to release on November 22, 2024. Wicked is an adaptation of the Tony-Award-winning Broadway Musical “Wicked” which opened in 2003. This musical is based on the adaptation of the novel written by Gregory Maguire in 1995 called “Wicked: The Life of Times of the Wicked Witch of the West”. Although the film has yet to be released, the press tour and social media have sparked major controversy over the last couple of months. But how did it all start? Let me explain…
The Poster Incident
On October 9, Universal shared a poster of the Wicked stars recreating the original poster from the Broadway version with a few differences. Shortly after a few people on social media took it upon themselves to edit the poster and make it resemble the original poster exactly, by hiding Erivos eyes with the hat she wore, and adding red lipstick to resemble the poster. While some fans preferred this version, Evrio posted how the poster changes made her feel on Instagram, and fans were not too pleased. Evrio posted “This is the wildest, most offensive thing I have seen, equal to that awful AI of us fighting…” she also added that the original poster is an “Illusion.” She stated “Our poster is an homage, not an imitation, to edit my face and hide my eyes is to erase me. And that is deeply hurtful.”. Since releasing this statement, fans have shared their opinion, and fans seem torn on how to feel. One fan wrote in support of Ervio on X stating “ “All of you supposed ‘wicked fans’ should be f—ing ashamed of yourselves. I don’t care how much you love the original poster. For a show that’s all about prejudice and the color of a young woman’s skin, the racism couldn’t be any clearer. You do not deserve this film.” Another fan wrote opposing Ervio on X “Girl, they were not erasing you… people just wanted the new poster to match the same energy as the Original Wicked poster… you know, one with her eyes covered and she’s smirking…”. Clearly, some fans are unhappy with how the star reacted, which sparked some intense controversy. But this was just the beginning…
The Crying/Fans are concerned
Ariana and Ervio are currently doing the rounds around the country for the press, and the fans have been noticing some very strange behavior. In countless interviews, the pair have been getting praise for their work and showing appreciation for their craft, and it seems that every time they do, they seem to tear up and then go into a small breakdown. For example, in one interview from “Jake Takes” The interviewer asks “In what ways has the person sitting next to you changed you for good?” After commenting on how good his question was, the pair (especially Grande) is seen choking. Evrio responds, saying, “It was like we were missing a chunk until we met each other..” And although this was a heartwarming moment, fans have noticed that this was not the first or last time we have seen the pair crying over questions from interviews. Fans have claimed it is due to how much the film means to the duo, or that they just are sensitive people. However, other fans speculate something else; one fan states that the immense crying is due to “trauma” on set or other personal reasons.
That is not all; fans worry about Grande and Ervio’s appearance. Since the film was announced, fans have noticed that Grande and Erivo underwent a sudden weight loss transformation. Fans are buzzing with questions and concerns, one writes.
“Are they getting starved?” – ryanranime
Although Grande states that she is the “healthiest” she has ever been, fans are not sure. Ervio has yet to comment on her physical appearance.
Since all of this has gone down, not only has this film been one of the most anticipated it has also been the most talked about. Let us know what you think about all of this controversy and if you plan on watching the film!
