The curse of Wicked: How cast have been blighted by an affair scandal, concerning weight loss and a mental health crisis during the five-year journey to bring Oz to the big screen

Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo understood their lives would be transformed when they were cast as Glinda and Elphaba.

The Broadway musical Wicked is incredibly popular, and fans have wanted a movie version for a long time. Many people would have loved the chance to star in it.

As ‘Wicked: For Good’ comes out on Friday, the actors are preparing to finish their work on the film and bid farewell to their roles.

Since Ariana and Cynthia joined the show in 2021, both they and their fellow cast members have faced numerous scandals.

The path to success, often symbolized by the ‘Emerald City,’ wasn’t easy. It was filled with problems, including difficult experiences like triggering past trauma, rumors of an inappropriate relationship, and worries about significant health changes.

So where did it all go wrong for the cast of Wicked?

Ethan Slater’s ‘affair’ with Ariana

Okay, so, I’ve been following Ethan Slater for ages, and honestly, the news about him and Ariana blew my mind! It all started swirling around in 2023 with rumors of them getting close while working together, and now it’s official – they’re actually dating! I’ve been glued to every update, it’s just… everything!

The actor who played Boq has been married to Lilly Jay, a clinical psychologist, since 2018. They had a son together in August 2022.

Ethan filed for divorce on July 26, 2023, five years after he tied the knot.

Ariana and Dalton Gomez were married until she filed for divorce in September 2023. Court documents indicated they had separated in February 2023.

Both parties announced they had split from their spouses within a few days of each other.

Rumors surfaced that Ariana and Ethan had been secretly dating for several months, reportedly becoming close while filming their movie together.

According to a source on set, the couple was very open about their relationship while filming, and most of the Wicked cast knew they were together.

‘They were sloppy on set,’ the insider shared. ‘They were seen being all over each other.

Witnesses saw them passionately kissing at a pub in Hampstead, and they were very affectionate with each other at Michelle Yeoh’s Oscar party back in March.

Lilly sparked speculation about a possible affair after revealing in a candid essay for The Cut that she was surprised and hurt by the relationship.

The woman described the aftermath of her husband’s infidelity as a deeply painful experience, a ‘darkness’ she felt trapped in as she tried to come to terms with the very public end of their marriage.

Lilly later publicly criticized Ariana in several interviews, telling Page Six that Ariana isn’t supportive of other women and that her family has been hurt as a result of the situation.

Lilly told DailyMail.com last year that she was focused on building a new life as a single mom.

Ambush that triggered Ariana’s PTSD

Just over eight years ago, a terrorist bombing at the Manchester Arena killed 22 people and injured more than 1,000. Ariana Grande was quickly escorted from the arena by security following the attack.

Many of the victims, who had come to see Ariana sing, were children.

The singer herself sank into a deep depression that left her feeling her life needed to be ‘saved’.

According to a Daily Mail source, the singer is experiencing a return of her PTSD after a disturbing incident last week. She was reportedly startled and overwhelmed when a man aggressively approached her on the red carpet.

During the Singapore premiere of her new film, Wicked: For Good, Ariana Grande was briefly grabbed by a fan who jumped over a security barrier. Her co-star, Cynthia, and several bodyguards quickly intervened to help.

I couldn’t believe it when I read the Daily Mail’s report! It wasn’t just some random thing – someone planned this attack on Ariana! And it’s even worse – this person has done this before, targeting other artists I love like Katy Perry and The Weeknd! It’s absolutely terrifying to think about, and makes me so worried for her. It wasn’t a one-off incident, it was a calculated attack!

Johnson Wen, known online as ‘Pyjama Man’ and self-proclaimed as the ‘most hated troll,’ shared photos and videos related to an incident involving Ariana. This happened a little over eight years after a terrorist bombing at Manchester Arena, where 22 people were killed and over 1,000 injured, causing Ariana to be quickly escorted from the venue by security.

In a disturbing video, he laughs wildly while explaining his plan to see Ariana, whom he calls his “best friend,” and says he’s been eagerly anticipating the meeting.

Ariana’s been working on calming herself down, as she tends to immediately think of the worst-case scenario, according to a source close to her.

If someone unexpectedly comes towards her or rushes at her, it causes a strong reaction – almost like she’s experiencing post-traumatic stress. Her mind instantly jumps to the most negative possibility.

After the devastating bombing in Manchester in May 2017, Ariana Grande considered withdrawing from public life and isolating herself, according to a source close to her. The source also revealed she continues to experience panic attacks.

Ariana has openly discussed her struggles with PTSD after the devastating concert bombing. In a 2018 interview with British Vogue, she explained how difficult it was to share her experience, acknowledging the immense suffering of others. She felt hesitant to even speak about what she went through, and admitted she didn’t know if she’d ever be able to discuss it without becoming emotional.

According to a source close to Ariana Grande, while she always prioritizes remembering those who lost their lives in Manchester, she herself was deeply affected by the event and continues to cope with the trauma daily.

Ariana believes that anyone willing to attack a crowded arena is capable of extreme actions, and therefore, anything at all.

Johnson was sentenced to nine days behind bars.

The Straits Times reported that the judge stated the defendant intentionally committed the act to gain attention on social media.

Johnson was also called a ‘serial intruder’ by prosecutors.

Cynthia Erivo’s ‘erasure’ scandal

In October 2024, Cynthia publicly criticized a fan-made, altered poster of her and Ariana Grande from the movie Wicked, calling it “completely outrageous and unacceptable.”

The actress shared an edited version of the movie’s first poster on her Instagram Story. The movie is a remake of a popular stage production.

She wrote: ‘This is the wildest, most offensive thig I have seen.’

Cynthia then related the question to the ones she’d received about her character’s green skin in the movie.

She continued: ‘None of this is funny. None of it is cute. It degrades me. It degrades us.

Let me tell you, that image you see? It’s not a real person, it’s an illustration. I’m a real person, and I made a point of looking directly into the camera, right at you. It’s funny, isn’t it? We don’t always need words to connect. Our eyes do the talking.

As someone who keeps a close eye on the world of theater, I was fascinated to hear the actress explain how this show evolved. She detailed the key changes between the very first version of the musical and what audiences are seeing on stage now – it’s always interesting to see how a creative work transforms!

She explained that their poster was meant as a tribute, not a copy. She then shared that altering her image to conceal her eyes felt like a personal attack, saying it was deeply upsetting to have her identity obscured.

She then went on to post another Instagram Story featuring the official poster.

Cynthia shared a picture with the message, ‘Just a little reminder and a fresh start,’ adding two green hearts.

Ariana and Cynthia’s uncontrollable tears

Throughout the Wicked press tour Ariana and Cynthia have been bawling their eyes out.

The two stars have been playfully mocked for their teary appearances on social media.

Earlier this month, Cynthia explained the reason behind the tears she and Ariana have shed while promoting the movie Wicked.

In a new interview, Cynthia admitted they get ‘very emotional’ while talking about the film.

On the Heart Breakfast show, Amanda Holden mentioned to Cynthia that everything she’s read about Cynthia and Ariana suggests they both frequently end up crying during interviews.

Yes, we definitely feel that connection! It’s like the energy people bring with them – their feelings and reactions – really fills the room. We’re finally able to openly discuss everything, so it feels like we’re both revisiting and re-examining all of our shared experiences and how far we’ve come.

‘We can’t help it, we get very emotional about it.’

Amanda agreed, saying she understood why it was difficult to make the movie. She pointed out all the challenges they faced, including the COVID-19 pandemic and strikes.

Cynthia explained that the final song was actually filmed after the strike ended. They had intended to finish production, but were initially unable to due to the strike, and it took another six months to complete.

Ariana Grande shared that she and the cast of Wicked often cried during filming, saying it happened almost daily.

Ariana described working on Wicked as a deeply emotional experience, and she and the other actors often weren’t shy about showing their feelings and crying during filming.

Speaking on the Sentimental Men podcast, Ariana said: ‘Me, everyone, we all cried every day.’

‘Everyone cried. It was really beautiful.’

Sarcastically, Ariana added: ‘So that was terrible.’

Ariana’s dramatic weight loss

When Ariana Grande dyed her hair blonde for her role as Glinda in 2023, many fans expressed worry about her health, noticing what seemed like weight loss on her already slender build.

Okay, so she asked us, her fans, to seriously rethink how we talk about bodies – not just hers, but anyone’s. She wants us to be kinder, and honestly, to stop feeling so okay with commenting on people’s appearances at all. It really hit me, you know? Like, she’s right. We need to be better about this, and I’m trying to be, I really am. It’s just… hard when you’ve admired her for so long and everything! But she’s asking, and I want to listen.

In a social media video, she explained that she struggled with depression, unhealthy eating, and alcohol while on antidepressants. She clarified that a time when people thought she looked her best was actually when she felt the worst and was far from healthy.

I probably shouldn’t have to say this, but I think being open and honest might lead to something positive. I’m not sure, but that’s my initial thought. And remember, what ‘healthy’ looks like can vary from person to person.

She went on to say that you can never truly know what challenges someone else is facing. Even with good intentions and a desire to help, they might already be dealing with it or have people supporting them.

‘You never know. So be gentle with each other and with yourselves.’

The cast’s co-dependency

Ariana shared on The Tonight Show on Tuesday that the cast has grown very reliant on each other.

Jimmy Fallon asked the actress if she enjoyed getting back together with her fellow cast members now that filming for both movies was finished in January 2024.

Ariana replied: ‘Yeah, a lot of people are asking, ‘Are you going to miss each other?’

I realized we’ve become very reliant on each other, and I don’t think we’ll be separated for long, if at all.

2025-11-19 20:51