At the Academy Museum Gala in Los Angeles, Grande expressed her mixed feelings about the situation. She acknowledged the complexities surrounding AI and fan creativity, stating, “It’s a complicated issue. I find AI troubling at times, but this is a huge adjustment for everyone. Fans will enjoy making their edits.” She also recognized the potential for things to go “too far” and showed her support for Erivo, noting the intense reactions surrounding the topic.
Erivo had voiced her concerns on Instagram, calling the fan edits offensive and degrading. She wrote, “This is the wildest, most offensive thing I have seen... None of this is funny. None of it is cute. It degrades me. It degrades us.”
The film adaptation of “Wicked,” directed by Jon M. Chu, is set to release in two parts, with the first arriving in theaters this November. The story follows the unlikely friendship between Elphaba and Glinda at Shiz University in Oz. Alongside Grande and Erivo, the cast features Michelle Yeoh, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, and Bowen Yang.
Grande also hinted at a possible musical collaboration with Erivo, saying, “I love being in the studio with her... I think we are stuck with each other, professionally and personally, for the rest of our lives. So I would say absolutely.”