Cynthia Erivo defends ‘clapback’ of fan-edited ‘Wicked’ poster: ‘It was a human moment’

Cynthia Erivo explained why she felt so passionately about a fan-edited “Wicked” poster after receiving backlash over her response.

When asked about the viral moment at the CFDA Fashion Awards Monday, Erivo told Entertainment Tonight that her reply “wasn’t necessarily a clapback” but instead a representation of how much she cares about the upcoming film.

“I think I’m really protective of the role,” she said. “I am passionate about it and I know that the fans are passionate about it, and I think for me it was just a human moment of wanting to protect little Elphaba.”

Cynthia Erivo defended her recent criticism of a fan-edited “Wicked” poster. WireImage

However, the 37-year-old actress admitted she should have run her remarks by a few friends before posting them online.

“I probably should have called my friends, but it’s fine,” she said with a laugh.

Erivo caused a stir earlier this month after criticizing a fan-made “Wicked” poster, which was tweaked to mimic the original Broadway poster by lowering Erivo’s hat and changing her expression.

In the film version, Erivo’s character, Elphaba, stares right into the camera as Glinda, played by Ariana Grande, whispers into her ear.

Erivo explained that she feels very “passionate” about the upcoming film. AFP via Getty Images “I think I’m really protective of the role,” she told Entertainment Tonight. Universal Pictures

However, in the fan’s version, Elphaba’s eyes were covered by shadows and her expression was changed to a smirk.

After seeing the edit online, Erivo reposted it to her Instagram Story, calling the changes “deeply hurtful.”

“This is the wildest, most offensive thing I have seen, equal to that awful Ai of us fighting, equal to people posing the question ‘is your ***** green,'” Erivo wrote atop the doctored poster.

“None of this is funny. None of it is cute. It degrades me. It degrades us.”

The actress called out a fan-made version of the “Wicked” poster earlier this month. ©Universal/Courtesy Everett Collection Erivo’s eyes were shielded in the edited version, which she called “deeply hurtful.” Instagram

The “Harriet” actress noted that the original Broadway poster was an “illustration,” while she is “a real life human being.”

“[I] chose to to look right down the barrel of the camera to you, the viewer …because, without words we communicate with our eyes,” she explained. “Our poster is an homage not an imitation, to edit my face and hide my eyes is to erase me.”

At the time, Grande showed her subtle support by resharing the unedited version of the poster to her Instagram Story.

The fan edit was made to look like the original Broadway poster. Erivo told ET she “probably should have called [her] friends” before posting her reaction online. Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Universal Pictures

When asked about the situation a few days later, the pop star said it has been “a massive adjustment period” for them both as AI becomes more prevalent.

“This is something that is so much bigger than us, and the fans are gonna have fun and make their edits,” Grande told Variety, acknowledging that things can sometimes be taken “too far.”

“I have so much respect for my sister, Cynthia, and I love her so much,” she added. “It’s just a big adjustment period. It’s so much stimulation about something that’s so much bigger than us.”