Cynthia Erivo Reflects on Her 'Sensitive' Reaction to Fan-EditedWickedPoster: 'I Fell Out on the Internet'

Mar. 15, 2025

Cynthia Erivo on Oct. 1, 2024.Photo:Marc Piasecki/WireImage; Universal Studios

Marc Piasecki/WireImage; Universal Studios

Cynthia Erivois again addressing whether she should have spoken out online about that viral fan-editedWickedposter.

The actress, who stars as Elphaba in the movie musical opposite Ariana Grande as Glinda, issued a statement on social media in Octoberslamming a version of herWickedposter that was alteredto match the iconic Broadway poster art, obscuring more of her face.

Erivo, 37, wrote that the manipulated poster was the “wildest, most offensive thing I have seen” and that “none of this is funny. None of it is cute. It degrades me. It degrades us.”

“The original poster is an ILLUSTRATION,” she added at the time. “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.”

In a new interview for theLos Angeles Times’The Envelope, she echoed the same sentiment.

Cynthia Erivo on Nov. 5, 2024.Don Arnold/WireImage

Don Arnold/WireImage

“Having that passion for what this piece is and loving it so much and knowing how much I want to communicate through Elphaba, that’s probably where that came from,” said Erivo. “And so in my little human moment I had … I fell out on the internet, when really I should have just picked up my phone and called a friend.”

“We have these human moments,” she added. “And me being human and sensitive, I shared something that I think is part of the little girl in me. I realize that there are so many people who love this just as much as I do.”

The Oscar nominee explained other ways she relates to her green-witch character Elphaba inWicked, a retelling of an origin story set before the events ofThe Wizard of Oz.

“We both lack patience, me more than her. I think we both have daddy issues. And we don’t mince our words, that’s for sure,” said Erivo.

Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande on Nov. 14, 2024.John Nacion/Variety/Getty

John Nacion/Variety/Getty

Erivo also described some traits of being a Capricorn that resonate with her day-to-day life.

“We’re methodical. We get things done. We tend to be know-it-alls. We have emotions, but we’re not necessarily the best at showing them. So sometimes they build and then all pop out at once,” she said. “We can be deeply caring. We’re deeply loyal.”

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Grande was previously asked about Erivo’s reactionto the fan-edited Wicked poster. While speaking toVarietyat the Academy Museum Gala Oct. 19, the singer, 31, said it’s “very complicated,” especially with A.I. tools being involved.

“This is something that is so much bigger than us, and the fans are gonna have fun and make their edits,” Grande acknowledged, adding that sometimes things go too far. “I have so much respect for my sister Cynthia, and I love her so much. It’s just a big adjustment period.”

Wickedis in theaters Nov. 22.

source: people.com