The much-anticipated musical fantasy Wicked starring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo is finally out in theatres and just as expected, it is being hailed as one of the best movies of 2024. In just a few days, the box office collection has managed to surpass the film’s production budget and Wicked is already creating Oscar buzz online. So, don’t be surprised if the 2025 Academy Awards mention the film in more than a couple of categories.
Keeping the positive reception aside, fans are talking about the film’s promotions. While there is clearly a lot of love between the two co-actors, netizens are questioning their authenticity and calling them out for overdoing it in the name of being woke.
Ariana Grande Comforts Cynthia Erivo
Recently, Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo joined Pink News to talk about Wicked. The interview turned a bit emotional for Erivo as she talked about her character, the Wicked Witch of the West, Elphaba.
Erivo and Grande discussed how their characters changed them “for good.” For Erivo, Elphaba helped her become a little more accepting of herself.
She recalled being told that Elphaba’s signature green color would become the aspect she’d loved the most about portraying the character. And while she did love being colored green for the film, it was the acceptance of her own beauty that she ended up loving above all.
Erivo stated,
Someone said to me once that the green was the thing that I would love the most about Elphaba, that I would want to stay green. But actually… being green yes, I loved playing this character, but every time I took the makeup off, I loved who I was even more.
Then, on the verge of tears, she said, “I’ve come away feeling really beautiful,” to which Grande (Glinda) added, “You f*cking are.” Just a few moments before, she told a very emotional Erivo, “If you need to cry right now, you cry.”
Clearly, Grande was giving her co-star a safe space where no judgment was allowed but unfortunately, her sweet gesture did not sit right with those online.
The Internet Rolls its Eyes
After their interview with Pink News was released, it didn’t take long for the Internet to get its claws out. While Grande might not have an ulterior motive than just wanting to comfort her co-star and friend, netizens branded the move as “insufferable.”
According to an account on X, @EndWokeness, “Wicked’s press tour is somehow getting more insufferable than it already was.” You best believe the replies under the post were equally, if not more, negative.
From calling it “cringe” to claiming that America has a “serious mental illness problem,” people online were far from kind.
Take a look at some of the harsh words said below:
Regardless of what the haters might have to say, Wicked is doing wonders at the box office. Fandango reported that the film became the site’s number 2 first-day ticket pre-seller this year when tickets went on sale on October 09.
Wicked also shattered the record set by Into the Woods by having the best box office launch ever for a Broadway musical adaptation with $114 million in the bag on its opening weekend. Into the Woods made $31 million.
As for its ratings, the film has a score of 89% on Rotten Tomatoes whereas the audience has given it a whopping 96%. Needless to say, Wicked is doing wicked good, no matter what the haters have to say.