Cynthia Erivo Slams Racist 'Wicked' Casting Accusations: 'I've Done The Work'

Cynthia Erivo is addressing the bigoted “conversations” about “Wicked” and its casting.

The adaptation of Broadway’s musical prequel to “The Wizard of Oz” premiered shortly before Thanksgiving and has already grossed more than $500 million worldwide, but also landed pushback from conservatives upset about the film’s casting and messages.

Erivo, a Black Briton born to Nigerian parents, addressed the backlash Wednesday.

“There have definitely been conversations about me getting this role as a ‘woke hire,’” she told Elle U.K. “I had to audition, just like everybody else. And I’m glad I had to do that. I have the credentials for it. I’ve done the work. But I’m glad they got to be sure about the choice.”

Erivo continued, “It allows me to take this, and to know that I had to work really hard for it.”

Erivo said her character of Elphaba “connects with anyone who feels like they’re the other.”

Jordan Strauss/Invision/Associated Press

Erivo’s character, Elphaba, is a young girl with magical powers whose green skin makes her a social target. An anecdotal account on social media suggested some viewers believe Erivo was only cast because she is Black, while other critics argued the film contained “too much” diversity, equity and inclusion.

Right-wing pundit Gina Loudon, a former media adviser for President-elect Donald Trump’s 2020 campaign, argued last month that the film is racist against white people — and incorrectly said Erivo’s co-star Ariana Grande, who is Italian American, “is obviously a Hispanic woman.”

Erivo is notably only an Oscar away from being a bona fide EGOT winner. She told Elle U.K. that the green makeup, which doesn’t hide that she’s a Black person, was her idea after initial talks of using CGI to bring Elphaba to life.

“I didn’t want to erase the thing that I am underneath the green,” Erivo told the outlet. “For me, it was about using my own experience as the ‘other,’ as someone who exists in that way. So, that’s partially the reason why Elphaba has braids, as opposed to straight hair.”

The actor said she immediately related to her character because “Elphaba’s otherness is about the colour of her skin,” but that the theme of being misunderstood “connects with anyone who feels like they’re the other” — whether they’re Black, queer or “just…different.”