Cynthia Erivo Faces Backlash Over Reaction to “Wicked” Movie Poster

Cynthia Erivo, the star of the upcoming film “Wicked,” is making headlines for her reaction to a new movie poster that has sparked controversy among fans. The official poster released by Universal Pictures features Erivo’s character Elphaba wearing green lipstick, a departure from the original Broadway musical key art where Elphaba is depicted with red lipstick and a hat covering most of her face.

When a fan created an altered version of the poster to match the Broadway version, Erivo took to social media to express her displeasure, calling it “offensive” and degrading. She emphasized that the original poster was an illustration, while she is a real-life human being who chose to look directly into the camera to communicate with the audience through her eyes.

While some fans supported Erivo’s stance, others criticized her for overreacting to the situation. They argued that the alteration was meant to pay homage to the original poster and not erase her as a person. Despite the backlash, Erivo stood by her feelings, stating that the edit was hurtful and disrespectful.

As the debate continues to unfold on social media, one thing is certain: “Wicked” is set to hit theaters on November 22, 2024. Whether the controversy surrounding the poster will impact the film’s reception remains to be seen.