Cynthia Erivo throws shade at Glinda auditions: ‘thank goodness’ for Ariana Grande

Cynthia Erivo applauds Ariana Grande’s casting in ‘Wicked’ as Glinda, shares her candid reaction to fan-edited poster.

Cynthia Erivo, starring as Elphaba in the upcoming Wicked film adaptation, recently shared her relief and satisfaction over Ariana Grande being cast as Glinda.

Speaking in an interview with The New York Times, Erivo, 37, revealed her reaction to learning about Grande’s role, saying, “Thank God.” She hinted that other actresses auditioning for the part hadn’t met the standard, sparking curiosity about her candid comment.

Alongside Grande, other well-known stars like Amanda Seyfried, Dove Cameron, Renee Rapp, and Taylor Louderman were reportedly in consideration for Glinda. Erivo shared how she hadn’t anticipated being cast as Elphaba due to the limited opportunities historically given to Black women for this role. Reflecting on this, she stated, “Black women have rarely been seen for this role,” mentioning that only one Black actress has played Elphaba on London’s West End stage.

Additionally, Erivo addressed the controversy surrounding a fan-edited Wicked movie poster, which reimagined the design to resemble the original Broadway artwork. The alteration obscured her eyes, a choice she found deeply offensive. In a powerful Instagram statement, Erivo wrote, “None of this is funny. None of it is cute. It degrades me.” She emphasized the importance of her direct gaze in the official poster, describing it as a way of connecting with the audience.

While the fan-made poster received backlash online, Erivo urged viewers to appreciate the official movie poster as an “homage, not an imitation,” expressing her hurt over the edited version’s impact. Later, she acknowledged that posting publicly about her feelings might have been impulsive, admitting at the 2024 CFDA Fashion Awards that she “probably should have called” her friends instead.

The Wicked movie, directed by Universal Pictures, is set to hit theaters on November 22, generating strong anticipation from both fans and critics.