Wicked star Ariana Grande slammed for misunderstanding meaning of ‘queer’ in original Wizard Of Oz books
As someone who has grown up with the magical world of Oz and its enchanting characters, I must say that Ariana Grande’s recent comments about Glinda’s sexuality have caught my attention. Being a fan since childhood, I was thrilled to see the reimagining of Elphaba and Galinda’s friendship in Gregory Maguire’s Wicked, and it seems that Ariana is adding an intriguing layer to this beautiful tale.
It’s been criticized that Ariana Grande may not fully grasp the definition of ‘queer’ as it was used in the original Wizard of Oz stories written by L. Frank Baum.
31-year-old pop sensation shared her thoughts during the promotion for her upcoming movie, “Wicked” – a pair of films based on the 2003 Broadway musical with the identical title.
According to the story “Wicked” by Gregory Maguire, this narrative delves into the origins and backstory of the main adversary from “The Wizard of Oz,” specifically the Wicked Witch of the West.
In the film, Cynthia Erivo stars as the primary character, while Ariana portrays Cynthia’s close friend named Galinda, who eventually transforms into Glinda The Good Witch from The Wizard of Oz.
During promotions for her latest movie, Ariana sparked debate by suggesting that the character Glinda could potentially be gay. She backed up her statement by pointing out that in the original L. Frank Baum books, the term “queer” is frequently used.
In social media, she faced widespread criticism as people highlighted that during the early 1900s, when her books were published, the term ‘queer’ was commonly used to mean ‘unusual’ or ‘odd,’ rather than relating to someone’s sexual identity.
“It’s truly unfortunate when people are unaware, and even more disheartening when they flaunt their ignorance as a badge of pride,” lamented one X user. Another commented, “In the past, actors were thoroughly educated in their craft. Today, all they seem to require is a few catchphrases associated with cultural Marxism.
One fan complained: ‘i wish they’d stop interviewing celebrities; they only disappoint with the limited knowledge they have.’
One X user asserted that Ariana Grande gives the impression of honesty, not deceitfulness. Instead, they suggested that she may lack knowledge or intelligence in certain matters.
Another individual, who’s grown up with Baum’s works, clearly understands its essence. They firmly believe no adolescent, regardless of their exuberance, can alter that fact.
One commentator on platform X (previously known as Twitter) humorously stated, “I could really use a cigarette,” carries a different connotation now.
Another remarked, ‘Just wait until they discover the ‘Gay Nineties’ of the 1800s,’ to which a third replied humorously, ‘Every household should have a 1828 edition of Webster’s dictionary.’
One onlooker commented dryly, “Keep them from reading The Lord of the Rings,” implying the strong bond between Frodo Baggins and Samwise Gamgee in the novel, a friendship that some humorously suggest carries hints of a gay relationship.
In the year 1900, L. Frank Baum introduced readers to unforgettable figures such as Glinda, the Wicked Witch of the West, Dorothy Gale, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion through his groundbreaking children’s book titled The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.
After its release, the debut novel was an extraordinary hit, leading the author to pen 13 more complete sequels before his passing in 1919.
1995 saw the publication of Gregory Maguire’s novel, “Wicked”, where he crafted an alternative narrative. This work retold the origins of the infamous Wicked Witch of the West, introducing us to Elphaba, a green-skinned girl, who attended university alongside Galinda in its pages.
Initially at odds with each other, Elphaba and Galinda eventually forge a deep friendship, but their bond is shattered as political strife escalates within Oz.
In a recent promotion for her latest film, Ariana hinted at something intriguing about Galinda and Elphaba’s bond – she implied it could be more than just friendship, stirring my heart as an ardent fan!
In her chat with Gay Times, Glinda hinted that there could possibly be a hidden side to her. Time will tell for sure! She playfully added.
She described Oz as a ‘celebration of uniqueness,’ gushing that ‘everyone is just so beautifully queer and that roots all the way back to the L. Frank Baum books, where, like, literally the most commonly used word in the books is “queer.”‘
Ariana mentioned that in the Emerald City, which is the capital of the imaginary Land of Oz, every day feels like a Pride celebration… just as the chickens there, they too seem to be part of the LGBTQ+ community.
Enraged spectators criticized her harshly on the internet for supposedly using “queerbaiting,” yet she received support from other quarters.
In the midst of all the commotion, Kristin Chenoweth, who first played the character Galinda on Broadway’s Wicked in 2003, chose to stand by Ariana.
When E! News published an article on Ariana’s previous statements through their Instagram page, Kristin swiftly responded in the comment section with: ‘I had the same thoughts long ago…’
As a dedicated follower of L. Frank Baum’s magical world, I’ve been captivated by the transformations his original novel, “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz,” has undergone over the years. The iconic 1939 film adaptation with Judy Garland was truly enchanting, and then came the 1975 Broadway musical, “The Wiz,” which was an all-black production that later graced our screens as a movie starring the legendary duo, Michael Jackson and Diana Ross.
One reason why the original Pride flag features a rainbow design is because Judy, a well-known symbol within the LGBTQ+ community, sung the tune “Over The Rainbow” in her movie adaptation of The Wizard of Oz.
The first part of Wicked premiered in cinemas a week ago, on November 22. The second part, titled Wicked: Part Two, is set to hit theaters on November 21, 2025.
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2024-11-26 22:20