There’s been a lot of buzz recently about the pay disparity between Wicked co-stars Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo. Both women are playing iconic roles in the highly anticipated movie adaptation of the beloved Broadway musical—Ariana as Glinda and Cynthia as Elphaba. Rumors began circulating that Ariana was being paid significantly more than Cynthia, with reports claiming that Ariana earned a massive $15 million while Cynthia was reportedly paid $1 million.
However, those reports have now been officially debunked. Universal, the studio behind the Wicked film, has clarified the situation, putting the pay gap gossip to rest once and for all.
“Reports of pay disparity between Cynthia and Ariana are completely false and based on internet fodder,” a Universal spokesperson told The Hollywood Reporter (THR). The studio went on to confirm through other sources that both Cynthia and Ariana were paid equally for their roles in the film.
So, despite the viral claims, the two stars are on equal footing when it comes to their pay for the film, squashing any concerns about a significant pay gap.
In addition to this clarification about their salaries, Ethan Slater—who plays Boq in Wicked—has opened up about the emotional impact of his co-stars’ interviews during the press tour. Ethan recently appeared on SiriusXM Hits 1 and shared his thoughts on the emotional weight carried by Cynthia and Ariana during their public conversations.
When asked about the emotional interviews that have been making headlines, Ethan described both actresses as being incredibly open and genuine in front of the cameras. “Well, they wear their heart on their sleeves, you know?” he said. “Their ability to be so connected to their emotions in this way allows for their characters to be so complicated and so nuanced.”
He continued, praising both actresses for bringing depth to their roles. “I just love this Glinda who is trying to figure out how to be a good person. And I love this Elphaba who is trying to figure out how to fit in, even when that conflicts with what she knows is right,” Ethan explained. “And the two of them, I think that’s, you know, it’s the beauty of switching to this medium of film. You can see it in their eyes. You can see it in the quiver of their lip. You know, they are so deeply connected to the journeys of these women.”
Ethan made a compelling point about the power of film to capture these nuanced moments in a way that the stage simply cannot. “I think that’s why when they’re having these interviews, yes, Wicked is like, so fun,” he said. “But Cynthia and Ariana are like, you know, holding hands and crying.”
He went on to explain that the emotional vulnerability of both actresses during these interviews is part of what makes their portrayals of Glinda and Elphaba so powerful. “I think it’s because both of those things are true. Like there’s both of that, both of them exist.”
As for Ariana’s performance, Ethan had high praise. “One of my favorite things about Ariana’s performance is that they really exist in the same moment,” he said. “She can be like the best physical comedian you’ve ever seen on screen and also be so torn and conflicted about her relationship with Elphaba. So it’s a real privilege to see up close.”
