Cynthia Erivo Pointing at The Wizard in Wicked

The stars of the upcmoing Universal film Wicked can’t seem to help themselves. In a recent interview, Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, who play Elphaba and Glinda in the movie, claim that Oz is “inherently” a place that promotes same-sex relationships. They go even further to say it has been since the original 1900 children’s novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum!

Meanwhile, we’re not even sure Frank would know what the terms being pushed out of corporations and ivy league DEI programs are.

In the interview, the two are asked a question about the character Fiyero, played by Jonathan Bailey.

 

“Do we think that maybe Fiyero like the attention from both?” the interviewer asked, alluding to Fiyero seeking attention and affection from both males and females.

Both Erivo and Grande pounce on this question, exclaiming “of course” in unison.

Grande quickly asserts that Oz is a place that has always promoted same-sex relationships.

“It’s always been,” Grande insisted.

“I think so,” Erivo quickly added, backing her co-star up in her assertion.
The witch's hat from the movie Wicked

A screenshot from the trailer to Wicked, YouTube

It should be noted that the love triangle central to Wicked  sees both Elphaba and Glinda, two females, clashing over the affections of Fiyero, a man.

“Even from the L. Frank Baum books,” Grande continued.

“Yeah,” Erivo said, adding her two cents to the conversation. “I think so for sure!”

“Hey, we’ll take it,” the interviewer quickly says before laughing.
Elphaba From Wicked

A Screenshot of Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba in the Wicked Movie Trailer, YouTube – Universal Pictures

Grande also said in a recent interview that there could be a romantic relationship between her character Glinda and Elphaba, claiming that she felt Glinda was in “the closet.”

L. Frank Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz came out in 1900. The book was written primarily for children.

Baum was also traditionally-minded when it came to family preferences. Whatever you might think of Oz, its creator was married to his wife Maud Gage in 1882.

Many claim that Dorothy, the main character in The Wizard of Oz was one of the first non-traditional characters in fiction. They assign romantic preferences to her that aren’t made clear in the original work. But ultimately there’s no evidence to back this up.
The Wicked Witch from Wizard of Oz

Margaret Hamilton as the Wicked Witch in The Wizard of Oz (1939), MGM

Many claim that she marries the character of Princess Ozma, but the two are simply described to be very good friends.

Wicked is on a tear right now at the box office, with many believing that the Universal film will hit $100 million at the box office in its opening weekend. The movie is marketed specifically to women and has a strong fanbase from the original Broadway musical.

But to say that a traditional author in 1900 was was promoting same-sex relationships in a children’s novel seems far fetched to many.