ALBAWABA - "Wicked" star Ariana Grande is uncertain about artificial intelligence after her co-star Cynthia Erivo felt insulted by fan edits of the poster for the upcoming musical.
At the Academy Museum Gala last Saturday, Grande told Variety, "I think it's very complicated because I find AI so conflicting and troublesome sometimes, but I think it's just such a massive adjustment period."
Saying, "This is something so much bigger than us, and the fans will have fun and make their edits."
Additionally, I adore my sister Cynthia and hold her in the highest regard. It's a significant time of adjustment for us. There is a lot of excitement surrounding something that is far larger than us.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 06: (L-R) Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande(Photo by Rodin Eckenroth / Getty Images via AFP)
One of the most current posters for the movie, which mimics the original Broadway poster, features Grande's character Glinda whispering into Erivo's Elphaba's ear. The main distinction between the movie poster and the Broadway version is that Erivo's eyes are visible beneath her Elphaba hat.
By lowering Erivo's cap to conceal her eyes, several fans changed the film adaptation to more closely resemble the Broadway production.
Last Wednesday, Erivo took to social media to voice his opposition to fan edits of the "Wicked" poster.
Her Instagram story has since disappeared. "This is the wildest, most offensive thing I have seen equal to that awful AI of us fighting, equal to people posing the question 'Is your p—- green?'" she wrote.
The AI-generated animation "AI of us fighting" turns the static ad into a comical altercation between the two women that gained some traction.
"None of this is funny. None of it is cute. It degrades me. It degrades us," Erivo wrote.
British actress, singer Cynthia Erivo (Photo by ANGELA WEISS / AFP)
Erivo was especially offended by the fan-edited poster's covering of her eyes.
"The original poster is an illustration," she stated. "I am a genuine person who decided to face you, the viewer, directly because eye contact is a form of non-verbal communication. Editing my face and hiding my eyes is erasing me; our poster is an homage, not a copy. And that is just so upsetting.
On his Instagram story, "Wicked" director John M. Chu defended Erivo's remarks by posting a screenshot of her remarks and referring to her as his "superhero."
Online, most fans thought Erivo's response was too strong for a poster that had been fan-edited.
"Maybe I'm going to sound mean, but Cynthia needs to chill out because it's not that serious; memes have always existed," a reader remarked.
Someone more chuckled, "Insufferably self-serious is one of my favorite types of celebrity, so I’m very happy with Cynthia Erivo’s current choices."
- Cynthia Erivo Instagram profile
Some defended Erivo by pointing out the criticism the actress received for only being chosen for the part.
Cynthia is requesting that people recognize her as a human being first. One reader said, "Since her casting, she's faced an endless barrage of criticisms—from not being ‘right’ for the role because she's not white to not being ‘pretty enough.'" She is merely requesting respect in her post, not only for herself but also for Ariana, who has been subjected to needless harassment for being herself in this capacity. The criticism directed at both of them demonstrates the strain that women—particularly women of color—face when they venture into unwelcoming environments.
Erivo's opposition to AI was also endorsed by some, who wrote, "I for one am 100% backing Cynthia Erivo for her AI hatred."
