Cynthia Erivo gets a hug from Ariana Grande as the Problem hitmaker weighs in on the controversy over fan memes of the Wicked poster

Cynthia Erivo got a hug from co-star Ariana Grande as the Problem hitmaker weighed in on the controversy over fan memes of the Wicked poster. 

The Wicked stars were among those in attendance at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures 4th Annual Gala in Los Angeles on Saturday.

The duo’s outing comes after Cynthia, 37, expressed her anger at the ‘offensive’ Wicked edits done by fans, accusing them of ‘erasing’ her. 

Speaking to Variety at the gala, Ariana, 31, defended Cynthia’s position as she criticised the use of AI as ‘conflicting and troublesome’. 

After performing on Saturday, Cynthia looked glum as she was comforted by Ariana backstage amid the controversy. 

Cynthia Erivo got a hug from co-star Ariana Grande in Los Angeles as the Problem hitmaker weighed in on the controversy over AI memes of the Wicked poster on Saturday 

The Wicked stars were among those in attendance at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures 4th Annual Gala in Los Angeles on Saturday

‘I think it’s very complicated because I find AI so conflicting and troublesome sometimes, but I think it’s just kind of such a massive adjustment period,’ Ariana told a reporter of the drama surrounding the memes of the poster. 

‘This is something that is such so much bigger than us and the fans are gonna have fun and make their edits.’

Asked if memes can sometimes go too far, she added: ‘I think so. And I have so much respect for my sister, Cynthia, and I love her so much. 

‘It’s just a big adjustment period. It’s so much stimulation about something that’s so much bigger than us.’

Cynthia recently blasted a particular edited Wicked poster featuring she and co-star Ariana where the fan had made it look like the original West End post. 

The actress took to her Instagram Story on Wednesday to repost an edited version of the recently unveiled poster for her new film which is a remake of the stage version.

She wrote: ‘This is the wildest, most offensive thig I have seen.’

Cynthia went on to compare it to the questions that have been sent her way regarding her green skin in the film.

The duo’s outing comes after Cynthia, 37, expressed her anger at the ‘offensive’ Wicked edits done by fans, accusing them of ‘erasing’ her

Speaking to Variety at the gala, Ariana, 31, defended Cynthia’s position as she criticised the use of AI as ‘conflicting and troublesome’

Speaking to Variety at the gala, Ariana, 31, defended Cynthia’s position as she criticised the use of AI as ‘conflicting and troublesome’

‘I think it’s very complicated because I find AI so conflicting and troublesome sometimes, but I think it’s just kind of such a massive adjustment period,’ Ariana told a reporter of the drama surrounding the memes of the poster

Cynthia took to the stage at the gala in LA as she performed for the audience 

Asked if memes can sometimes go too far, she added: ‘I think so. And I have so much respect for my sister, Cynthia, and I love her so much’

She continued: ‘None of this is funny. None of it is cute. It degrades me. It degrades us.

‘The original poster is an ILLUSTRATION. I am a real life human being, who chose to look right down the barrel of the camera to you, the viewer …because, without words we communicate with our eyes.’

The talented actress then went on to describe the differences between the original musical and the theatric version.

‘Our poster is an homage not an imitation,’ she said, before adding, ‘to edit my face and hide my eyes is to erase me. And that is just deeply hurtful.. ‘

She then went on to post another Instagram Story featuring the official poster.

‘Let me put this right here,’ Cynthia wrote above the image, alongside two green hearts. ‘To remind you and cleanse your palette.’

The difference between the two images is in the official poster, you can see Erivo’s face and she stares directly into the camera expressionless.

In the stage version of Wicked, and the fan art, Elphaba’s hat is drawn down over her eyes and nose and she wears a smirk on her face with red lipstick.

Cynthia recently blasted a particular edited Wicked poster featuring she and co-star Ariana where the fan had made it look like the original West End post (Both pictured with co-star Jaff Goldblum)

‘Our poster is an homage not an imitation,’ she said, before adding, ‘to edit my face and hide my eyes is to erase me. And that is just deeply hurtful’

Ariana shared the official version of the poster to her Instagram Stories and gushed about her co-star, who is just an Academy Award away from EGOT status.

‘I love you @cynthiaerivo and I cannot wait for the world to experience your sheer, utter magnificence in this… I’m just sayin’. I love you, here we go!’

Cynthia then replied via Instastory: ‘@arianagrande what a moment in time. What a wonder we get to experience together! 

‘I can’t wait for people to be blown away by you and your utter love and care for Glinda (and truly Elphie). It’s time now. I’ve got you. I love you.’