Cynthia Erivo Slams Fan-Edited ‘Wicked’ Poster, Says ‘It Degrades Me’

October 17, 2024: Cynthia Erivo, who plays Elphaba in the upcoming Wicked movie adaptation, expressed her disappointment over a fan-made poster of the film that hides much of her face, specifically her eyes.

Erivo took to Instagram to share her frustration, highlighting how the edited version of the official Universal poster mimicked the original Broadway musical poster, which featured an animated Elphaba.

In her post, Erivo pointed out that unlike the illustration from the musical, she is a “real life human being” and emphasized that she intentionally made eye contact with the viewer in the official poster, a powerful form of non-verbal communication. By hiding her face in the altered version, Erivo felt her presence and identity were being erased, which she described as “deeply hurtful.”

She also compared this experience to other offensive depictions of her character, including AI-generated images and insensitive questions she has received about her portrayal. Erivo’s comments shed light on how these alterations can feel dehumanizing and degrading, particularly in light of her role in such an iconic and beloved story.

Wicked, directed by Jon M. Chu, is a highly anticipated adaptation of the 2003 Tony Award-winning musical. It explores the backstory of Elphaba (the Wicked Witch of the West) and Glinda (the Good Witch), with Ariana Grande starring alongside Erivo.