Kristin Chenoweth, who played Glinda in the original Broadway production of Wicked, responded to Ariana Grande by saying the character is “in the closet.”
The Pushing Daisies actress, 56, who recently attended the Los Angeles premiere of the fantasy musical adaptation, shared her opinion after the pop star, 31, made the suggestion in an interview with Gay times.
Grande took on the role of Glinda in the film, which officially opened in theaters on Friday, while Cynthia Erivo played Elphaba, a character originally played by Idina Menzel.
Ariana had told the outlet that Glinda “might be a little in the closet,” but she soon sparked backlash when fans accused her of “queerbaiting.”
The singer’s comments were later shared on a Instagram post from E! News and caused Chenoweth to jump into the comments section.
The actress, who played Glinda on the Broadway stage starting in 2003, simply wrote: “I thought so too back then…”
Kristin Chenoweth, 56, who played Glinda in the original Broadway production of Wicked, responded to Ariana Grande, 31, saying the character is “in the closet”; seen earlier this month in New York
Grande reflected on her Wicked character’s sexuality in a recent interview with British outlet Gay Times alongside Erivo, and the two were asked about fans presenting their characters as a romantic duo.
Glinda may be a little reserved. You never know! Give it a little more time,’ he said in the interview.
Grande also said that Oz is a ‘celebration of uniqueness’ and added: ‘everyone is so wonderfully queer and that goes back to the L. Frank Baum books where literally the most commonly used word in the books is “queer.” “‘
The star went on to say that “every day in the Emerald City (the capital of the fictional Land of Oz) there is a Pride parade…even like the chickens, those chickens are gay.”
Elsewhere in the interview he called Doctor Dillamond, played by Peter Dinklage, a “gay icon.”
Meanwhile, Erivo said of her green witch: “I think Elphie goes where the wind blows.”
“I think he loves Glinda. I think she loves love. And I don’t think there’s anything wrong with celebrating the deep connection they both have.”
‘They have a relationship. It’s true love, and that’s probably why people ship it, you know? Erivo added. ‘Because what they build between themselves is a bond and an unbreakable love.’
The actress, who played Glinda on the Broadway stage starting in 2003, simply wrote: “I thought so too back then…”
Ariana had told the outlet that Glinda “might be a little in the closet,” but it soon sparked backlash when fans were accused of “queerbaiting.”
Grande took on the role of Glinda in the film, which was officially released in theaters, while Cynthia Erivo played Elphaba, a character originally played by Idina Menzel; Chenoweth and Menzel seen above in 2004
Grande later said of her Good Witch character: “And trust and truth.” A safe space for each other, which is what all relationships should be, whether romantic or platonic.’
“I mean, it’s just true love, and I think that transcends sexuality,” Grande shared. ‘It’s just a kind of deep security within each other. And that’s probably why they send it.
The interviewer then asked if everyone in Oz was LGBTQ+. “I think so, a little bit,” Cynthia said. “Yes,” Ariana agreed.
In Wicked, Glinda and Elphaba start out as enemies but become friends while at school.
There are romantic plots in the film, as Glinda pursues Prince Fiyero, who is secretly interested in Elphaba, and Boq (played by Grande’s real-life boyfriend Ethan Slater) pines for Glinda, who does not return his affections.
After the interview, fans quickly took to it online, with one writing: “queerbaiting is getting too out of hand.”
Queerbaiting is a marketing technique where creators imply same-sex romance or other LGBTQ+ representation, without actually depicting it.
Another asked: “Why can’t they just be platonic?” while one simply said: ‘OH????’
Grande reflected on her Wicked character’s sexuality in a recent interview with British outlet Gay Times alongside Erivo, and was asked about fans presenting their characters as a romantic duo; seen earlier this month in New York
One fan added: ‘ariana reposts gelphie memes on her story, likes a post about flower fields having lesbian colors, says the boy is mine it’s about elphaba and then says glinda is in the closet…’
‘Ariana is trying so hard on this boat! First he says Glinda is a bit in the closet and now she’s wearing Elphie’s hat?! Girl.’
However, some fans had a different perspective, with one commenting on X: ‘Ariana confirmed that Glinda is a bit out of the closet!’ We won!’
The stars also did another interview with GLAAD, where they were asked what they hoped LGBTQ audiences would get from Wicked.
‘That you deserve all the good things. That your difference is what makes you special. That your queerness is beautiful. That I love you.’
After the interview, fans quickly took to it online, with one writing: “queerbaiting is getting too out of hand.”
However, some fans had a different perspective, with one commenting on X: ‘Ariana confirmed that Glinda is a bit out of the closet!’ We won!’
The interviewer then asked if everyone in Oz was LGBTQ+. “I think so, a little bit,” Cynthia said. “Yes,” Ariana agreed.
“Elphaba is just like you and understands what it’s like to be alone and feel different, but that doesn’t make you any less special than you were born to be,” Erivo said.
Speaking about the fantasy world of The Wizard of Oz, Grande added: “Oz is a very strange place and always has been, even in L. Frank Baum’s books. It’s always been strange.
Jon M. Chu directed the long-awaited adaptation, which also stars Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum and Michelle Yeoh.
Since its release on Friday, the film has already opened with surprising box office numbers: it grossed $19.2 million in its first week alone.