Universal recently addressed a viral internet rumor claiming that Ariana Grande was paid way more money than Cynthia Erivo for their roles in the movie “Wicked.”
The rumor began when folks on social media claimed that Grande reportedly received an impressive $15 million for her portrayal of Glinda. In contrast, Erivo, is said to have earned just $1 million for her performance as Elphaba. However according to @pagesix, Universal Pictures is claiming that information is false.
“Reports of pay disparity between Cynthia and Ariana are completely false and based on internet fodder. The women received equal pay for their work on ‘Wicked,’” a spokesperson for Universal Pictures said in a statement to the news outlet on Tuesday.
Wicked, adapted from Gregory Maguire’s acclaimed novel, explores the origins of the witches from Oz, showcasing Erivo as Elphaba and Grande as Glinda. The screenplay for Jon M. Chu’s film was penned by Winnie Holzman, the writer behind the stage adaptation, in collaboration with Dana Fox. Stephen Schwartz, the Academy Award-winning composer and lyricist, has also reimagined the musical for the big screen. The cast features notable names such as Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Jonathan Bailey, and Bowen Yang.
During their whirlwind press tour, the two lead actors have expressed their admiration for each other, both in their performances and personal interactions, and have shared their desire to return to Broadway together at some point.
Meanwhile, the second part of Wicked is set to premiere on November 21, 2025. The first installment concluded with the iconic song “Defying Gravity,” which famously closes Act I of the stage version and leads into the film’s “To Be Continued” moment. Chu explained to THR that they felt splitting the movie was essential, noting, “We found a beautiful balance in it.”
Wicked has been a box office sensation, achieving a historic $15.8 million on a Monday, breaking the previous record held by Frozen 2, which earned $12.7 million in 2019. The film also amassed over $160 million globally during its opening weekend.
