‘Wicked’ makers dismiss pay disparity rumors between Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo

Universal Pictures has addressed rumors surrounding alleged pay disparity between Wicked co-stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, dismissing the claims as baseless.

A spokesperson for the production clarified, “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.”

The controversy began after unverified claims on TikTok and Reddit suggested Ariana Grande earned $15 million for her role as Glinda, while Cynthia Erivo, playing Elphaba, was paid only $1 million.

These allegations were quickly amplified by social media and picked up by various news outlets, sparking debate online. However, sources close to the production have confirmed that both actresses received equal compensation for their work in the movie musical directed by Jon M. Chu.

Wicked, based on Gregory Maguire’s best-selling novel, explores the untold story of the witches of Oz. The screenplay is co-written by Winnie Holzman and Dana Fox, with music adapted by Stephen Schwartz, the Oscar-winning composer of the original stage production.

The film’s cast also includes Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Jonathan Bailey, and Bowen Yang. Both Erivo and Grande have spoken about their strong off-screen bond, with hopes to collaborate on Broadway in the future.

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