Wicked Actress Cynthia Erivo Mad Over “Degrading” Poster Fan Edit

Another day, another reason for outrage on the internet. This time, Cynthia Erivo, the actress playing Elphaba in the film adaptation of Wicked, is allegedly mad that a fan edit covered her face.

The original film poster was an homage to the Broadway poster, which showcased Erivo as Elphaba and Ariana Grande as Glinda.

I saw several fans talking about how they wished the poster was even more like the Broadway version, where Elphaba has her face partially covered by the hand.

Apparently, a fan took the initiative to replicate the original poster, and now Cynthia Erivo is claiming that it is “degrading” and somehow unpersons her.

Seriously?

It’s a fan edit to reflect the Broadway poster and in no way seems intentionally demeaning, but the actress still had a meltdown over it, saying,

“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… because, without words we communicate with our eyes. Our poster is an homage not an imitation, to edit my face and hide my eyes is to erase me. And that is just deeply hurtful.
This is the wildest, most offensive thing I have seen, equal to that awful AI of us fighting, equal to people posting the question, ‘is your p*** green.’” None of this is funny. None of it is cute. It degrades me. It degrades us.”

Now, making posts asking if she “pees green” is over the top, and I get mad about such a ridiculous question, but the poster change simply seems to be a fan making the image reflect the original poster.

The internet thinks she is being ridiculous as well.

You don’t get to control what people do. Those who are NOT pleased about your eyes not being covered, including myself, are entitled to have that opinion . https://t.co/q2jqDTPH77

— La Reina🇺🇸Creole🇩🇴🇯🇲🇵🇷🇹🇹🇨🇺🇭🇹🇲🇽🇨🇴 (@LaReinaCreole) October 16, 2024

She’s allowed to be offended but I’m allowed to think she’s ridiculous for being offended.

— Witty & Worldly (@WittyWorldly) October 16, 2024

Ma’am no one is disrespecting you. The photo was edited to look like the original. That’s it, that’s all.

— Rawಜು (@Rgowda_27) October 16, 2024

it’s not that deep girl

— marco (@dontmindataII) October 16, 2024

I don’t think they meant any harm by it… they were just trying to make it look like the original poster 😅 pic.twitter.com/jyjfDKiakt

— Khalil Underwood (@RealKhalilU) October 16, 2024

I had to double check this was real because what…

— mark (@whykram) October 16, 2024

People just like the original better…

— Ali Malone (@folkred12) October 16, 2024

I have the book and it looks just like the cover of the book. Don’t think it was meant to be taken that way… pic.twitter.com/T9R0n5dUd3

— Court (@CourzLee) October 16, 2024

I’m case I wasn’t already disinterested in the new Wicked movie, seeing Erivo claim that a gorgeous fanart edit of the movie poster made to resemble the iconic musical poster was more offensive than AI and sexual harassment put me off the project ENTIRELY.

— Theodore (Theo) Foxx (@FoxxDoesArtt) October 16, 2024

Bit of an overreaction, it’s not remotely like AI. The musical having shaded eyes is meant to show the darkness that people perceive of her, that she’s the villain. The movie poster erases that and is just “look at me I’m an actor” which completely eradicates the subtly of it.

— DangerVille (@DangervilleTeam) October 16, 2024

She’s allowed to be offended but I’m allowed to think she’s ridiculous for being offended.

— Witty & Worldly (@WittyWorldly) October 16, 2024

When the artist’s ego is bigger than the art.

— Marius, the wise… 🦘 (@WWMariusDo) October 16, 2024

I don’t think this is going to go the way she thinks. I can see why she might be offended, but it doesn’t seem to be meant as an insult.

What do you think? Comment and let us know!