Kristin Chenoweth – who played Glinda in the original Broadway production of Wicked – has 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 musical fantasy adaptation — shared her thoughts 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 premiered 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 closeted” — but was quickly criticized when fans were accused of “queerbaiting.”
The singer’s comments were later shared on a Instagram post from E! News and prompted Chenoweth to jump to the comments section.
The actress – who played Glinda on the Broadway stage in early 2003 – simply typed: ‘That’s what I thought at the time…’
Kristin Chenoweth, 56 – who played Glinda in the original Broadway production of Wicked – has responded to 31-year-old Ariana Grande, saying the character is ‘in the closet’; seen in NYC earlier this month
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 shipping their characters as a romantic duo.
“Glinda might be a little closeted. You never know! Give it some time,” she said in the interview.
Grande also said that Oz is a “celebration of uniqueness,” adding, “Everyone is just so beautifully strange and that goes all the way back to L. Frank Baum’s books, where literally the most overused word in the books is” foreign.”‘
The star went on to say, “Every day in the Emerald City [the capital city of the fictional Land of Oz] is a Pride parade… just like the chickens, those chickens are gay.”
Elsewhere in the interview, she called Doctor Dillamond, played by Peter Dinklage, a “gay icon.”
Meanwhile, Erivo said of her green witch, “I think Elphie, she goes where the wind blows.”
“I think she loves Glinda. I think she likes love. And I don’t think there’s anything wrong with celebrating the deep bond they both have.”
‘They do have a relationship. It’s true love, and that’s probably why people ship it, you know?’ Erivo added. ‘Because what they build together is an unbreakable bond and love.’
The actress – who played Glinda on the Broadway stage in early 2003 – simply typed: ‘That’s what I thought at the time…’
Ariana had told the outlet that Glinda ‘might be a little closeted’ – but quickly faced backlash when fans were accused of ‘queerbaiting’
Grande took on the role of Glinda in the film – which officially premiered – while Cynthia Erivo played Elphaba, a character originally played by Idina Menzel; Chenoweth and Menzel seen above in 2004
Grande then said of her Good Witch character, “And trust and truth. Such a safe space for each other, and that’s what all relationships should be, whether romantic or platonic.”
“I mean, it’s just true love, and I think it transcends sexuality,” Grande said. “It’s just kind of a deep safety in each other. And that’s probably why they’re shipping it.”
The interviewer then asked if everyone in Oz was LGBTQ+. “I guess so,” Cynthia said. “Yes,” Ariana agreed.
In Wicked, Glinda and Elphaba start out as enemies but grow into friends while in 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 friend Ethan Slater) pines for Glinda, who does not return his affection.
Following the interview, fans quickly went online, with one writing: ‘the queerbaiting is getting too out of hand.’
Queerbaiting is a marketing technique in which creators reference same-sex romance or other LGBTQ+ representation without actually portraying it.
Another asked: ‘Why can’t they just be platonic?’ while someone 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 shipping their characters as a romantic duo; seen in NYC earlier this month
A fan added: ‘ariana reposts gelphie memes on her story, likes a post about the flower fields being lesbian colored, says the boy is mine, is about elphaba, then says glinda is in the closet …’
‘Ariana is going fast on this ship! First she says Glinda is kind of closeted and now she’s wearing Elphie’s hat?! Girl.’
However, some fans had a different take, with one commenting to X: ‘Ariana confirmed that Glinda is a bit out of the closet! We won!’
The leading ladies also did another interview with GLAAD, where they were asked what they hoped LGBTQ audiences would gain from Wicked.
‘That you deserve everything good. That your difference makes you special. That your strangeness is beautiful. That I love you.’
Following the interview, which fans quickly took online, one person wrote: ‘the queerbaiting is getting too out of hand’
However, some fans had a different take, with one commenting to 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 guess so,” Cynthia said. “Yes,” Ariana agreed
“Elphaba is just like you, and she understands what it feels like to be alone and feel different, but that doesn’t make you any less special than you were born to be,” Erivo said.
About the fantasy world of The Wizard of Oz, Grande said, “Oz is a very strange place and always has been, even from L. Frank Baum’s books. It’s always been strange.’
Jon M. Chu directed the highly anticipated film 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, taking in $19.2 million in its first week alone.