Wicked’s Elphaba Actress Says She Did Not Clapback At AI-Altered Fan Posters

Wicked's Elphaba Actress Says She Did Not Clapback At AI-Altered Fan Posters

As a seasoned cinephile who’s spent countless hours immersed in the intricacies of theater and film adaptations, I find myself intrigued by the recent saga surrounding Cynthia Erivo and the Wicked poster controversy. It’s a fascinating study in passion, protection, and the delicate dance between artists and fans in this digital age.


Earlier this month, the actress faced criticism when she appeared to criticize fans who altered a poster for an upcoming film to conceal her face. However, she has since clarified that her initial remarks were misunderstood; she actually expressed her affection for the character and felt compelled to safeguard it due to the manipulation of the image.

The trouble started when Universal unveiled a fresh poster for the upcoming musical adaptation of the widely acclaimed Broadway show in November, which was an innovative take on the traditional one-sheet featuring Glinda whispering into Elphaba‘s ear. In the original poster – a lively representation of the characters – Elphaba’s face was largely concealed by the brim of her hat, only revealing a red-lipped grin. Fans were underwhelmed to see that the revised version, starring Ariana Grande and Erivo, replaced this with a clear view of Erivo’s face and eliminated the red lipstick. In response, some enthusiasts chose to design their own versions as an alternative.

Indeed, given the nature of online platforms, one variation emerged that went a step further, incorporating NSFW remarks about Elphaba’s private areas. Erivo responded sharply to these modified posters, labeling them as highly offensive, expressing her belief that those altering the posters were wrong for both concealing her face and inserting such explicit comments. In a recent interview, it seems that the criticism her strong response received has led her to reconsider if her reaction was unduly amplified.

What Has Cynthia Erivo Said About Her Poster Comments?

Wicked's Elphaba Actress Says She Did Not Clapback At AI-Altered Fan PostersWicked's Elphaba Actress Says She Did Not Clapback At AI-Altered Fan Posters

“I may have come across as more critical than I actually was.

Instead of being a direct response or retort, what I did might be seen as an expression of my strong feelings towards the character of Elphaba. In fact, I’m deeply invested in this role, and I share the same intensity with the fans who love her. So, when I felt the need to defend little Elphaba, it was more like a human reaction rather than a clapback. Looking back, I should have reached out to my friends instead.

Absolutely, Erivo’s feelings about the fan reactions to the original poster and her response to their alterations are just as important as anyone else’s. After all, it’s her image on the poster and her role in the movie that is being modified, which can be quite frustrating for many. It’s worth noting that such controversy could potentially affect the film itself, especially if fans who are upset about the changes decide not to support Erivo and the movie over a minor adjustment made to a promotional material.

Currently, there’s no indication that such an event is imminent. Preliminary predictions suggest the film could earn as much as $120 million during its opening weekend, a figure that would shield it from the underwhelming box office debuts experienced by other recent musical productions like “Cats”, “West Side Story”, “Wicked”, and even director Jon M. Chu’s own “In The Heights”.

Read More

Sorry. No data so far.

2024-10-30 04:14