Cynthia Erivo calls “vicious” poster changes offensive and demeaning

Everyone involved the film adaptation of Evil was aware of the pressure they would take on from the fan base of one of Broadway's most popular musicals. And yet that recognition hasn't made it any easier to address the burgeoning criticism surrounding the film, out November 22nd. If the official poster for Evil wasn't an exact replica of the illustrated Broadway artwork, fans edited it themselves – but Cynthia Erivo, who portrays Elphaba in the film, called the changes “the wildest, most offensive thing I've ever seen.”

Erivo started her Instagram story after coming across fan-made posters editing it Evil Poster showing Elphaba, whose eyes are covered by a black witch's hat. The new photos also adjusted the placement of Glinda's (Ariana Grande) hand to match the original poster's position. “The original poster is an ILLUSTRATION,” the actress wrote. “I am a real human being who has chosen to look directly through the camera at you, the viewer… because without words, we communicate with our eyes.”