Ariana Grande Claps Back as ‘Wicked’ Co-Star Slams Fans for AI-Edited Posters!

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The buzz around the upcoming Wicked film, set for a 2024 release, has been intense, with lead actors actively promoting the project. Recently, a marketing effort involving a recreated version of the iconic Broadway poster by stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande sparked controversy. The debate arose when Erivo expressed her displeasure over an A.I.-generated poster that altered her character Elphaba’s appearance, showing the hat lower on her forehead and giving her a serious expression alongside Grande’s portrayal of Glinda. Grande has now voiced her thoughts on the matter.

At the annual Academy Museum Gala in Los Angeles, Variety caught up with Grande to get her perspective on the A.I. poster that upset Erivo. While Grande didn’t directly address whether the poster offended her, she shared insights on the broader challenges and public reactions to artificial intelligence:

Long before the advent of A.I., fans have been known to personalize art and images for entertainment. The ultra-realistic nature of recent A.I. technology, however, particularly disturbed Cynthia Erivo. She explained via Instagram that the modification of the hat to mimic the Broadway poster’s style not only obscured her facial features but also seemed to create a rivalry between her and Grande’s characters.

In her response, Grande sought to empathize with Erivo’s feelings while acknowledging the complexities of A.I.:

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Although the Don’t Look Up actress did not specify her personal feelings about the altered poster, it’s clear that Grande, a veteran of public scrutiny since her teens, is no stranger to dealing with media uproar and online criticism. She has recently addressed criticisms regarding her altered vocal tone for playing Glinda.

Despite Erivo’s objections, fans are likely to continue creating and sharing their own versions of promotional materials. As Grande indicated, the introduction of A.I. into the creative landscape has fundamentally changed the game, leaving many to grapple with its implications. Voice actors have already started to challenge unauthorized uses of their voices through A.I., underscoring the ongoing uncertainty around the technology’s impact and the duration of the adjustment period, which Grande suggests may be lengthy.

Both Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande star in the first installment of Wicked, which is scheduled for theatrical release on November 22.