The much-anticipated film adaptation of Wicked has sparked a whirlwind of buzz—both for its record-breaking box office numbers and for the… unusual press interviews given by its stars, Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande. While the film has soared with a $163 million (£90.6 million) global opening weekend, some fans have been left scratching their heads at the stars’ promotional appearances, which have been described as “weird” and “cringe.”
Here’s what went down: During their press run, Erivo and Grande seemingly stayed “in character,” often speaking in hushed tones, holding hands, and even breaking into tears. One particular interview with Out magazine has gone viral for all the wrong reasons.
When journalist Tracy E. Gilchrist brought up how the LGBTQ+ community was connecting with the lyrics of Defying Gravity, Erivo responded in an exaggeratedly emotional way: “I didn’t know that was happening. That’s really powerful. That’s what I wanted.” The moment
was instantly meme-ified, with fans poking fun at her dramatic reaction.
One X user wrote, “The Wicked interviews are so f**ing weird and cringe I don’t even wanna see it.”
Another commented, “Why is every Wicked interview I’ve seen so far with the main two celebrities so… weird. Holding… space… You… have… been… Whispering… Holding… hands… finger…”
Even the journalist behind the viral moment weighed in on the hilarity. Gilchrist explained that her question came just two days after the election and reflected the heightened emotions in the LGBTQ+ community at the time. She added: “I loved her response, and I love that people are having a laugh, because I know I could use one about now. I never considered I’d become a meme, but as an unrepentant show queen, I’m thrilled that it’s for something this campy.”
Despite the memes and bemused reactions, Wicked has been a triumph at the box office. It now holds the record for the biggest opening weekend for a Broadway musical adaptation. Perhaps, Erivo and Grande’s oddball antics are just part of the magic that’s making Wicked the campy phenomenon we never knew we needed.