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When Cynthia Erivo was announced in the role of the Wicked Witch of the West for theWizard of Ozprequel, some took it as a personal offense. People began clubbing the actress into the list of race-swapped characters because previously the character was mainly portrayed by White actresses.
However,Wicked‘s performance at the box office is a clap-back to the haters due to one record it broke. Previously, viewers had hoped that the Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga starrerJoker: Folie à Deuxwould become the highest-grossing musical, but they were left disappointed. Instead, this achievement was won easily by Jon. M Chu’s directorial in a mere eight days.
A scathing non-verbal response to the haters
Jon Chu‘sWickedwas not short of scandals ahead of its release, especially due to the two main actresses. WhenAriana Grandewas selected to play Glinda movie snobs couldn’t stomach the pop star in the musical role, but her co-star didn’t receive the same response.
Barbenheimer 2025 Was Almost Here: Ariana Grande’s Wicked 2 Release Date Moved, Was It to Avoid Clashing With One of the Greatest Disney Sequels Ever?
In fact,Cynthia Erivo‘s casting was met with even more negative remarks, mainly due to the color of her skin. Haters didn’t pay attention to the Grammy-winning singer’s talents but instead noted that the role of the Wicked Witch of the West had previously been portrayed by mainly white actresses.
However, theDriftactress decided to let her vocals and abilities speak for her, and soon showtime came. The movie’s performance in just a week since its release was a stinging answer to the haters as it became the highest-grossing musical. DC fans may have expectedTodd Phillips‘sJoker: Folie à Deuxto gain that status, but that was not to be.
joker can’t relate 💀
Wicked was so awesome. I was impressed
That’s pretty wicked.
Lady Gaga rnpic.twitter.com/7KetGINGBC
Joker 2 could have been if they weren’t too busy virtue signalling with an iconic character and actually made a violent musical with the Character.
TheLady Gagastarrer bombed at the box office and received mixed reviews from the critics. On the other hand, Elphaba’s origin story has had glowing reviews, breaking records left and right. Made on a budget of $150 million, theMichelle Yeohstarrer has already earned its initial investment (via Deadline).
The never-ending tides of racism
Erivo made headlines when she responded to a fan-made poster of the musical adaptation. Instead of praising the artist, thePinocchioactress highlighted the offensive way in which she was portrayed in the art, which deeply hurt her sentiments (via Datebook).
None of this is funny … it degrades me. 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.
Previously, the actress had been the victim of a lot of hate for scoring the role of Elphaba, a role that has been portrayed by the likes of Margaret Hamilton,Idina Menzel, and others. After Alexia Khadime, Erivo became the second Black actress to portray the famed character in a major production of the musical.
Joaquin Phoenix’s Joker 2 Disaster May Have Turned DC’s Beloved Villain Into a Box Office Curse For One Sole Reason
The British Board of Film Classification, aka BBFC even issued aspecial disclaimer, informing viewers of the movie’s major theme of discrimination. However, the warning was met with ridicule online, adding to the list of scandals that already surround the film.
Wickedis currently available to watch in the theatres.
Joker: Folie à Deuxis currently available to watch on Prime Video.
Shruti Pathak
Articles Published :286
An entertainment writer with a passion for storytelling that transcends genres, Shruti Pathak is currently pursuing her Bachelor of Arts in English. She is also a devoted poetry enthusiast, exploring the beauty of language and emotion through verse. Obsessed with the show Friends, a self-proclaimed swiftie, and inspired by classical literature these are just some characteristics that describe the novice writer. Newly joining FandomWire as an intern writer, she hopes to share her thoughts while sharpening her writing skills on various entertainment topics.
