Ariana Grande is speaking out about her Wicked co-star Cynthia Erivo’s recent criticism of fan-edited Wicked posters and AI-generated memes.
The poster released by Universal was tweaked by fans to mimic the original Broadway poster, including lowering Elphaba’s witch’s hat and covering Erivo’s eyes. A meme that went viral earlier this week showed Glinda whispering in Elphaba’s ear with the caption: “Is your pussy green?”
“I think AI is very complex because I think it’s very contradictory and messy at times, but I think it’s kind of a massive adjustment period,” Grande said at the Academy Museum Gala Saturday in Los Angeles. told me exclusively. “This is much bigger than us, and our fans will enjoy editing it.”
Ariana Grande attends the 4th Annual Academy Museum Gala held at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on October 19, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. Gilbert Flores
When I suggested that sometimes things can go “too far,” Grande said, “You know what? And I respect and love my sister Cynthia very much. It’s really a big adjustment period. It’s so exciting when it comes to something so much bigger than us. ”
Cynthia slammed fan-edited posters and memes on her Instagram Story on Wednesday. “This is the wildest, most disgusting thing I’ve ever seen, as much as that horrible AI we’re fighting or people asking the question, ‘Is your P green?’ ” Erivo wrote while sharing one of the “Wicked” posters that had been Photoshopped with her face hidden. “None of it is funny. None of it is cute. It degrades me. It degrades us.”
Cynthia Erivo attends the 4th Annual Academy Museum Gala held at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on October 19, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. Gilbert Flores
Universal and director Jon M. Chu are adapting the Broadway musical “Wicked” into a two-part movie, with the first movie set to hit theaters in November. This musical is set at Shizu University in Oz and tells the story of Elphaba and Glinda who become roommates and unlikely friends. In addition to Erivo and Grande, the film’s supporting cast includes Michelle Yeoh, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, and Bowen Yang.
I also asked Grande if she and Erivo could record original songs together in the future. “I love being in the studio with her, even if I’m like a fly on the wall, hearing what she’s working on and knowing she’s there when I’m working. I love it,” she said. “I think we’re going to be stuck with each other for the rest of our lives, both professionally and personally. So I would definitely say that.”
