Cynthia Erivo, who takes on the iconic role of Elphaba in the latest version of the “Wicked” movie, recently voiced her disappointment over a fan-altered version of the film’s poster.
“Wicked” is a film adaptation of the 2003 Broadway musical, which itself reimagines the classic “Wizard of Oz” tale.
The plot delves into the roots of the Wicked Witch of the West, giving her a sympathetic history. Erivo will star alongside Ariana Grande as Glinda the Good and Jeff Goldblum as the villainous Wizard.
The original poster depicts Erivo as Elphaba, with her entire face revealed as she stands confidently next to Grande’s Glinda. However, a fan took it upon themselves to change the poster by lowering Elphaba’s hat to cover her eyes.
For Erivo, the change was more than just a modification to an image; it was a heartbreaking reminder of how often black women’s identities are minimized or distorted.
In an Instagram story, she addressed her feelings, stating, “None of this is funny. None of it is cute. It degrades me. It degrades us,” said Erivo.
“The original poster is an ILLUSTRATION. I am a real life human being, who chose to look right down the barrel of the camera to you, the viewer … because, without words we communicate with our eyes.
“Our poster is an homage not an imitation, to edit my face and hide my eyes is to erase me. And that is just deeply hurtful.”
Commentators have been vocal about the necessity of recognising the full humanity of black women in all spheres, with one comment underscoring that, “Black women deserve better. We deserve more than to have our identity erased, minimized, or modified when we show up for work.”
Grande also chimed in during an interview with “Entertainment Weekly”, where she expressed her conflicted feelings about fan edits, particularly those involving artificial intelligence.
“I think it’s very complicated because I find AI so conflicting and troublesome sometimes, but I think it’s just kind of such a massive adjustment period,” she remarked.
Cynthia Erivo has reacted to viral edits of the ‘WICKED’ poster:
“This is the wildest, most offensive thing I have seen, equal to that awful AI of us fighting… Our poster is an homage not an imitation, to edit my face & hide my eyes is to erase me. That is just deeply hurtful” pic.twitter.com/y3P1Qh379S
— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) October 16, 2024
Grande acknowledged fans’ creative impulses while emphasising that we are witnessing a big shift in how authenticity in art is communicated and perceived.
The issue of representation is not new in Hollywood. Zendaya, who received criticism for her part as Mary Jane Watson in “Spider-Man: Homecoming,” emphasized the need of diversity in superhero films in an interview with “The Hollywood Reporter,” saying, “It’s important to see people who look like you in roles you can relate to.”
Similarly, actress Gabrielle Union has expressed her worries over changes to her appearance in promotional materials, emphasizing the importance of true depiction of black women in the media.
Union stated in an interview with “Essence”: “We are often left out of the conversation, but we need to be included to tell our stories.”
Erivo’s remark offers light on the emotional weight associated with Hollywood representation. When people modify photographs to hide their identities, they send the message that some stories and faces aren’t worth seeing.
