After Wicked sold out movie theaters across the nation in the previous year, Wicked II had a lot to live up to. Thankfully, it did not come to disappoint. Released November 21, 2025, this long-awaited sequel was a satisfying conclusion to the recreation of the Broadway musical. Costars Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo’s stunning performance of the movie series has accumulated a significant fanbase who are in love with all things Wicked. Aside from their talented acting skills and outstanding vocals, memorably featured in their beautiful duet “For Good,” many speculations behind the scenes have continuously gained attention from viewers. As attention surrounding both online interviews and unverified dating rumors has circulated online, public focus has shifted from the movie. Instead, people are more interested in the star actresses’ appearances, hyperanalyzing their emotions and behaviors. The public’s response to this blockbuster hit reveals how media culture reinforces invasive expectations for women, which ultimately shapes the messages young girls receive about femininity and self-worth.
During an interview with Elle, Ariana Grande addressed the public attention surrounding her physical closeness with Cynthia Erivo. During the Wicked press tours, they frequently held hands as a platonic expression of physical comfort and friendship. Speaking on Amy Poehler’s Good Hang podcast, Grande described their touchiness as a display of reassurance and did not expect it to be publicly scrutinized until it went viral. Audiences’ focus on their physical relationship rather than their fabulous relationships relays the notion of how the public overanalyzes female intimacy. Their physical display of friendship is no more than a platonic care for each other after working many years on a project they both deeply care for.
While speculations on intimacy and personal relationships have dominated early discourse, attention has shifted to the actresses’ bodies themselves. In an opinion piece published by Cosmopolitan, the Wicked: For Good press tour is described as having a growing “thinness discourse issue.” The physical appearance of the actresses has caused audiences to fixate on their perceived weight loss rather than their performances. This commentary is often framed as a concern for health, yet it is blurred into invasive conjecture and harmful gossip. By circulating unverified theories about what has happened behind the scenes, this discourse reinforces the idea that thinness is morally charged. As the public continues to survey the physical appearances of these women, it sends a damaging message that women’s bodies are topics of open judgment.
This mindset blurs the line between empathy for their circumstances and intrusively questioning their personal lives. This reinforces cultural norms that women’s appearances are subject to widespread evaluation. Rather than challenging these beauty standards, constant commentary perpetuates them. In order to end the public’s teaching that the visibility of girls invites judgment beyond their control, society must begin to praise women for their achievements rather than their appearance.
Ultimately, public obsession with rumors, appearances, and speculation distracts critics from the Wicked movies’ true intentions. The film’s success lies in the powerful performances and emotional storytelling. The productions of Wicked over the past 2 years have brought a favored Broadway production to new generations of viewers. However, media culture is undermining the artistic work that deserves to be celebrated by shifting attention away from artistic achievement. Re-entering the conversation on Wicked’s creative impact honors the cast and creators, and challenges a culture that prioritizes women’s bodies over their brilliance.
