Fan-edited ‘Wicked’ poster removed Cynthia Erivo’s eyes, and now she’s seeing red

Fan-edited 'Wicked' poster removed Cynthia Erivo's eyes, and now she's seeing red

As a passionate supporter of Cynthia Erivo and her remarkable career, I wholeheartedly stand with her on this matter. Her words resonate deeply, not just as a call for respect in the portrayal of her character, but as a powerful statement about the importance of recognizing the humanity and artistic choices of real-life artists.


I, a follower, am sharing that Cynthia Erivo, who’s set to grace our screens in “Wicked” next month, has expressed her disapproval towards a fan-made movie poster bearing a striking resemblance to the Broadway show poster.

A fan posted a TikTok video that compares the two posters and shows the edits being made. Erivo — who plays the green-skinned witch, Elphaba, based on the Wicked Witch of the West from the classic “Wizard of Oz” movie — is given smirking red lips and a dark shadow over her eyes from her wide-brimmed witch hat. Glinda (played by pop star Ariana Grande) whispers into Elphaba’s ear in the poster. Her hand is moved higher, but no changes are made to her hair or face.

Fan-edited 'Wicked' poster removed Cynthia Erivo's eyes, and now she's seeing red

In a post on Instagram, Erivo expressed that what she saw was the most shocking and disrespectful thing yet, sharing the altered poster and labeling it as demeaning.

The person who initially shared this is not a real individual, but rather an illustration. However, I myself am a living, breathing human being. I chose to directly face the camera in a creative decision, aiming to engage the viewer.

“[W]ithout words we communicate with our eyes,” she said.

In my post, I expressed that our poster isn’t mimicking something else, but rather paying tribute. Editing my features and concealing my eyes feels like obliterating me, which is incredibly painful. (Erivo wrote this)

The “Wicked” musical, first performed in October 2003 and still running on Broadway, is one of the longest-standing shows in its history. This production was inspired by a novel published in 1995, sharing the same title, which offers a fresh perspective on the classic tale “The Wizard of Oz.” In this reimagined version, the wicked witch takes center stage as the protagonist.

The film is based on the initial part of the musical, and another film is scheduled for release in November 2025.

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2024-10-18 04:01

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