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Universal responds to Wicked Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo pay disparity rumors
Universal responds to Wicked Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo pay disparity rumors
A spokesperson for Universal Pictures responded after online rumors claimed Ariana Grande was paid much more for the film than Cynthia Erivo.
Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo were reportedly paid the same for their starring roles in Wicked.
As the film broke box-office records over the weekend, rumors began swirling about how much the two stars of the film made. Several videos and posts all over social media — most notably on TikTok and Reddit — alleged that Erivo was paid $1 million while Grande was paid $15 million, which resulted in a huge outrage.
Now, Universal Pictures has put the speculation to bed.
“Reports of pay disparity between Cynthia and Ariana are completely false and based on internet fodder," a Universal spokesperson told The Hollywood Reporter. "The women received equal pay for their work on Wicked."
Notably, the spokesperson did not clarify how much money Erivo and Grande were actually paid.
The Jon M. Chu-directed musical movie debuted in theaters November 22, 2024 and grossed $164 million globally and $114 million domestically in its opening weekend, cementing it as the current no. 1 movie in the world.
Wicked: Part I is now playing in theaters.
