A month after the release of the blockbuster film Wicked, Cynthia Erivo is once again addressing her detractors who believe she was a DEI hire.
In a recent interview with Elle, the actress behind Elphaba tackled renewed claims that she was chosen simply to meet “woke” or diversity requirements. Despite stating, “I had to audition, just like everybody else,” fans and critics remain divided—especially as Erivo has repeatedly highlighted her own background and perspective as being vital to the role.
A Screenshot of Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba in the Wicked Movie Trailer, YouTube – Universal Pictures
READ: Wicked 2 Debuts New Title as Wicked Part 1 Stalls at the Box Office
Wicked arrived in theaters last month, earning robust box-office returns and generally favorable reviews for its spectacle and performances. Yet Cynthia Erivo has continually surrounded herself (and Wicked by extension) with controversy. Now, as the film’s sequel—Wicked: For Good—prepares for a November 2025 release, her fresh remarks on Wicked DEI have rekindled scrutiny over whether her casting stemmed solely from her talent or was also about representing a particular image.
Addressing the “token-hire” controversy, Erivo told Elle, “I have the credentials for it. I’ve done the work. But I’m glad I had to audition, because it allows me to take this, and to know that I had to work really hard for it.”
Her supporters point to her award-winning background—recognition on stage, screen, and music—as proof that she earned the part of Elphaba. However, some detractors argue that Erivo’s laser focus on her personal identity in interviews has undermined her own claim that it was purely an audition-based decision.
A Screenshot of Ariana Grande From the Wicked Movie Trailer, YouTube – Universal Pictures
READ: Wicked Dolls With Obscene URL Back on Store Shelves at Universal Orlando
It became very clear before this film ever came out that Cynthia Erivo saw the character as an extension of herself, with constant references in interviews to connecting Elphaba with her own race and sexuality.
In an earlier interview with Variety, Erivo explained, “I didn’t want to remove myself from Elphaba. I wanted to connect the two.” She even chose off-black microbraids for Elphaba, diverging from the stage musical’s signature long, wavy black locks. According to Erivo, that nod was meant to reflect “what was underneath the green.”
“I hope it’s a bit of a love letter to everyone who feels different, who feels out of place, to all of the Black women who have walked into rooms and felt like they haven’t been welcomed,” Erivo said in an interview with Variety. “To anyone who’s walked into a room and felt like they haven’t been welcomed. I am really glad to be the conduit through which this character has been brought to the world.”
A screenshot from the trailer to Wicked, YouTube
Some critics feel that if Erivo’s casting truly had nothing to do with external factors, she wouldn’t emphasize her personal background to such an extent. And calling herself “the conduit” that allows black women to feel accepted makes it sound as though she’s placing a ton of social significance on herself and her performance.
Actors typically play characters and embody those characters. However, Erivo’s goal with Elphaba was seemingly to force the character to embody her.
The exterior of the Wicked Merchandise store at Universal Studios Orlando – Photo Credit: M. Montanaro
Erivo connected her identity to the character to such an extent that a inconsequential fan edit of a poster caused her to fly off the handle in an unhinged social media tantrum that became the talk of the town several months ago.
The Broadway poster famously shows Glinda whispering into Elphaba’s ear, partially obscuring their faces. The film version, by contrast, reveals both actors’ faces. While some fans appreciated this approach for showcasing the two stars, others missed the iconic stage version’s mysterious quality and wanted to create a version of the poster that could elicit that nostalgic rush many feel for the long-running Broadway show.
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
READ: Mattel Sued Over ‘Wicked’ Merchandise Misprint That Sent Kids to Obscene Website
When a fan shared an edit attempting to mimic the original poster more closely—partially hiding Erivo’s eyes—the actress flew off the handle, publicly denounced it as “the wildest, most offensive thing I have ever seen.” She called the fan edit degrading saying, “It degrades me…it degrades us!”
It’s not clear who the “us” in her statement was in reference to. Some believe it was a reference to co-star Ariana Grande whose face was also partially concealed. However, others believe the collective “us” might have referred to all black women.
“The original poster is an ILLUSTRATION,” Erivo said. “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.”
Throughout her short diatribe, which many decried as incredibly narcissistic, Erivo uses the words “I,” “me,” “us,” “our,” “we,” and “my” a total of eleven times.
Despite the ongoing Wicked DEI discussions, production for Wicked: For Good continues, with a scheduled release date in November 2025. Erivo’s portrayal garnered both praise and pushback the first time around, suggesting that the sequel may stir further conversations about her artistic choices and level of self-involvement with the role.
Do you believe Cynthia Erivo was cast in Wicked for her talent alone or DEI? Did you see Wicked? If so, are you planning to see the sequel next year? Sound off in the comments and let us know!
This ugly monster makes me nauseous.
I keep saying this: actors are clowns and thus their job is to entertain us. When they start preaching to us, they’re not being entertaining and are worthless. I wish more people would take that idea to heart and just ignore them when they try and pretend they matter outside of making us laugh.
And much like some clowns, you don’t want to let your children anywhere near them.
I don’t think anyone really questioned her qualifications – she is an established Broadway talent. That’s just her insecurities and her dedication to being a victim. As for diversity, the character is green so it doesn’t matter that much, but it did step the ugly meter up significantly.
I think the real issue is how thoroughly unlikeable she has proven to be, to the point of not even being willing to watch her in green paint play a different more liekable person
She is so ugly.
Broooo there is nothing but DEI hires anymore in Hollywood, at this point only White males actors are non DEI, and this weird Girl thinks she is something because she got awards?? Giving by Who?? Hollywood? Yeah like their opinions matter at all, Media?? Yeaaaah sure, echo chamber full power
A number of people were really offended by the temper tantrum involving making the poster look like the original. More and more, people lose all faith in Hollywood
Having an audition doesn’t mean she’s not a diversity hire. In fact the race swap of the witch confirms it.
This is the biggest paradox with identity politics. One minute its all about the diversity because its the most important thing..then when their BS gets thrown back in their face, they play the fool and act likes its not even relevant.