Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo Call ‘Wicked’ Equal Pay Rumor “False”

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As a seasoned cinephile who has witnessed the rise and fall of countless Hollywood rumors, I must say that the recent speculation surrounding the pay discrepancy between Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande in “Wicked” is both intriguing and disappointingly unsurprising.

Universal Pictures has cleared up speculations about a significant salary gap between “Wicked” stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande. Contrary to rumors that spread online on platforms like TikTok and Reddit, suggesting Ariana Grande received $15 million for her role as Galinda while Cynthia Erivo got only $1 million as Elphaba, the truth is more balanced. Both actresses were reportedly paid fairly for their respective roles in the highly successful “Wicked” movie.

Contrary to reports suggesting a $14 million salary gap between Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande in the “Wicked” film, Universal Pictures has debunked these claims. A representative from Universal stated that both actresses received equal compensation for their work on the project. The studio did not reveal the exact amount each star was paid for the movie.

It seems the assumption arises due to the fact that Ariana Grande, as a popular pop figure who’s sung hits like “Break Free,” “Side to Side,” and “Thank You Next,” might receive a large payment, contrasting with Cynthia Erivo, whose fame stems from critically praised roles in films like “Bad Times at the El Royale” and “Widows,” which had less successful box office runs.

Although instances in Hollywood have surfaced where a supporting actor earned more than the main star (such as Terrence Howard making more than Robert Downey Jr. in Iron Man), no reliable sources have disclosed the exact salaries of Erivo and Grande, nor are the specific figures known to have originated from.

Misinformation About Movies Spreads Quickly

Unconfirmed reports on social media sparked speculation that Grande earned significantly more than Erivo, but these allegations lacked any solid evidence to support them. Spread without proper substantiation, the rumors gained traction and were widely accepted by many. The speed at which misinformation in entertainment news is spreading has become a concerning trend, as an increasing number of individuals are being fed information that lacks connection with reality.

One need only look at how the story that She-Hulk: Attorney at Law star Tatiana Maslany was seemingly suing Disney for being cut out of Deadpool & Wolverine. The reality is that not only was all that false, but it was just a joke in a Lego Disney+ special. It didn’t matter that it was fake because the not-real news story generated a lot of clicks and people believed it.

With the pay disagreement apparently resolved, the focus has shifted towards the possibility of upcoming awards. “Wicked” has established itself as a strong contender for the Academy Awards, with Erivo and Grande both appearing to be in the running for Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress respectively. Following their success in “Wicked”, Erivo and Grande are expected to secure substantial paychecks for their future film roles.

Wicked
is currently playing in theaters.

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2024-12-01 22:32