Tony-winning actor Kristin Chenoweth, who originated the role of Glinda in the Broadway cast of Wicked, bashed far-right conservative group One Million Moms for banning the movie adaptation of the musical.
OMM is a bigoted religious organization notorious for boycotting LGBTQ+ inclusivity in movies and TV shows to protect children from the so-called "gay agenda" allegedly being pushed on them.
Despite the "one million" in the title, the organization has just over 105,000 social media followers. Even if OMM boasted a million members, the anti-LGTBTQ+ hate group would only comprise an ineffective army of 1 to 2% of moms in the U.S.
Its latest target is Jon M. Chu's two-part movie adaptation of Wicked starring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo.
A petition on its website encouraging followers to ban the musical movie states that Wicked has "tremendous amount of witchcraft and sorcery" and "not-so-discrete crossdressing and men crushing on men."
As a result, they claimed the movie was “pushing the LGBTQ agenda on families, particularly children.”
It continued:
“Instead of an uplifting Broadway musical about friendship and family, talents and resources were used to create a dark movie that also pushes wokeness."
Chenoweth slammed OMM in the comments section of Out Magazine's post mentioning the bigoted boycott.
"Everyone knows the 'one million Moms' are a mere few hundred. Maybe," wrote Chenoweth. "it’s called entertainment. Artistry."
The 56-year-old Pushing Daisies star continued:
"I am a Christian woman or originated the role of Glinda and all the silliness that these women spew out of hate. No no no."
"I can’t help it : i try to love em anyways. For they don’t get it."
"For anyone who wants to see girl power, then go so WICKED. Onstage or in a movie theater. 💕💕💕💕😂💕"
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Social media had plenty to say about the scandal.
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As of December 15, 2024, the first half of the two-part film adaptation has grossed $359.2 million in the U.S. and Canada, and $166.1 million in other territories, for a global total of $525.3 million.
As far as the boycott of Wicked, it's not going so well.
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While Wicked depicts themes of identity, equality, justice, and unfair assumptions, it does feature a love triangle involving the two female leads and the dashing Fiyero, played by out actor Jonathan Bailey.
In promo appearances for the film, Erivo, who plays Elphaba, has identified as queer and bisexual.
She and Grande recently responded to the Wicked fandom's "Gelphie" ship premise between their characters.
“I think Elphie is… She’s goes wherever the wind goes. I think she loves Glinda, I think she loves love. And I don’t think there’s anything wrong with celebrating the deep connection the both of them have,” Erivo told Gay Times.
She added:
“They do have a real relationship. It is true love, which is probably why people are shipping it. What they build with each other is an unbreakable bond and love.”
Grande added:
"And trust and truth and such a safe space for one another, which is what all relationships should be, whether it’s romantic or platonic.”
The "Thank U, Next" singer also suggested that her Glinda character "might be a little in the closet," regarding her feelings for Elphaba, to which Chenoweth commented:
"I thought so too way back when…."
While these conversations are not a part of Wicked, OMM warned audiences they should be apprised of "the queer content in Wicked and not [be] blindsided by it."
Wicked is loosely adapted from Gregory Maguire's 1995 novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West. It is an origin story for the characters in L. Frank Baum's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz.
Maguire's novel serves as political commentary and a cautionary tale about the consequences of society persecuting individuals who are othered, like Elphaba, who with her green skin pigmentation, is ostracized and depicted as evil.
The second half, officially titled, Wicked: For Good, is scheduled for a November 21, 2025 release.
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