Ariana Grande reacts to ‘Wicked’ poster editing controversy and Cynthia Erivo’s comments

Ariana Grande weighed in on Cynthia Erivo’s recent response to a fan-edited “Wicked” poster.

“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,” Grande, 31, told Variety at the Academy Museum Gala in Los Angeles on Oct. 19. “This is something that is so much bigger than us, and the fans are gonna have fun and make their edits.”

Last week, Erivo, who plays Elphaba in the upcoming “Wicked” movie, criticized a fan-altered version of the film’s poster. 

In the original poster, Erivo’s character’s full face is visible as she poses next to Grande’s character, Glinda. In the fan-edited poster, however, the top half of Erivo’s face is concealed by a hat, and her lips are red instead of green.

Erivo called the fan-altered image “deeply hurtful” and said it “degrades” her by hiding her features.

“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,” the actor and singer wrote, in part, in her Instagram story on Oct. 16. 

She also criticized an AI-generated video showing Elphaba and Glinda fighting that has been making the rounds online, calling it “awful.”

Many fans came to Erivo’s defense.

“Black women deserve better. We deserve more than to have our identity erased, minimized or modified when we show up for work,” one person wrote on the X platform. “I was deeply sadden to see the ‘fan’ poster edit of Wicked, even before I saw Cynthia Erivo’s response.”

“Cynthia Erivo’s reaction highlights the importance of representation and authenticity,” another X user wrote. “Her words emphasize how art should respect the identities of those involved. It’s vital to honor the original work and the people behind it. Her perspective adds depth to the conversation about creativity and respect in the industry.”

Other fans disagreed, saying the edited poster was simply an homage to the original “Wicked”  Broadway poster, an illustration that shows Elphaba with her eyes obscured.

When asked by Variety if fan-edited images can sometimes go “too far,” Grande agreed.

“I think so. And I have so much respect for my sister, Cynthia, and I love her so much,” she said. “It’s just a big adjustment period. It’s so much stimulation about something that’s so much bigger than us.”