Universal has clarified pay disparity rumors surroundingWicked, which allege Ariana Grande-Butera and Cynthia Erivo didn’t get paid the same amount. Following the release ofThe Wizard of Oz-based musical, unsubstantiated claims appeared online, claiming the leading actors in thecast ofWickeddid not get equal pay for their parts. The rumor goes that Grande-Butera earned $15 million for her role as Galinda, while Erivo received $1 million for her part as Elphaba. These were later reported on by news outlets that added mounting pressure to the still unconfirmed information.
Now,The Hollywood Reporterhas received a statement from an unnamed Universal spokesperson, who has confirmedGrande-Butera and Erivo received equal pay for their roles inWicked. The spokesperson addressed the rumor as “internet fodder,” something THR says was backed up by other sources with knowledge on how much the movie’s stars were paid. Check out what the spokesperson for Universal said below:
Reports of pay disparity between Cynthia and Ariana are completely false and based on internet fodder. The women received equal pay for their work onWicked.
What Universal’s Statement Says About Wicked’s Pay Disparity
Internet Rumors Are Easy To Spread
Despite the lack of substantial information about how much Grande-Butera and Erivo were paid, online rumors still easily spread that they had been paid unequally. GivenWicked’s impressive box office numbers, the anger drummed up by this rumor is understandable, as it would be unfair for the leads to have such wildly different salaries. It also wouldn’t make sense given their equal importance throughout the film’s lengthy story. Luckily, this is not actually the case,with the claim being a cautionary tale about how easily disinformation can spread across digital spaces.
Wicked Ending Explained & How It Sets Up Wicked Part 2
Wicked: Part 1 builds up Elphaba and Glinda’s friendship, leading to a tense ending in The Emerald City that sets the foundation for Wicked: Part 2.
In addition, Universal’s statement emphasizeshow much money was spent onWickedfrom the start, with a reported $350 million invested right away into the two-part musical. It wouldn’t make sense for the studio to spend so much money perfecting the film, only to give its lead actor less pay than her co-star. Whilethis discrepancy is, sadly, something that can and does happen in Hollywood, the unsubstantiated nature of the original rumor indicated already that it wasn’t true, making the official response unsurprising.
Our Take On Wicked’s Pay Rumor Getting Dispelled
It Was Important For Universal To Address
Although the rumors about Grande-Butera and Erivo’s pay discrepancies weren’t true, it was important for Universal to directly address them in order to dispel the rumors. It also helps emphasize how much work both actors put into their roles to make them come to life, highlighted by the equal pay they both received. WithWickedbecoming a box office hit right from its opening weekend, this confirmation of no pay inequality helps uplift its already stellar public perception.
Wickedadapts the first half of the Broadway musical of the same name.Wicked Part Twoarrives in theaters on June 25, 2025.
Wicked
Cast
Wicked adapts the Broadway musical into a two-part film, following the unlikely friendship between Elphaba, born with green skin, and Glinda, a popular aristocrat, in the Land of Oz. As they navigate their contrasting paths, they evolve into Glinda the Good and the Wicked Witch of the West.
