Cynthia Erivo is expressing her frustration with “deeply hurtful” fan art that obscure her features in promotional images for the upcoming “Wicked” movie.

On Wednesday, after sharing some incredibly detailed fan art on her Instagram Story, Erivo addressed a particular edit that bothered her. This altered promotional poster features Ariana Grande’s character, Glinda, whispering to Elphaba, played by Erivo, while her face is hidden behind her witch’s hat.

Unlike the official poster where Erivo faces the camera directly, the modified image seems to mimic artwork from the Broadway musical.

“This is the wildest, most offensive thing I have seen, just like that terrible AI of us fighting…” Erivo noted in her Instagram Story above the altered “Wicked” poster. “None of this is amusing. None of it is charming. It degrades me. It degrades us.”

The “AI of us fighting” refers to a digitally generated video that depicts Grande and Erivo’s “Wicked” poses as if they were physically fighting. She also mentioned a meme that has circulated, which humorously discusses Elphaba’s body.

“The original poster is an ILLUSTRATION,” she emphasized. “I am a real human being, who decided to look directly into the camera for you, the viewer…because we can communicate with our eyes without saying a word. Our poster is a tribute, not a replica; to edit my face and conceal my eyes is to erase my identity. And that is profoundly hurtful.”

To clarify her point, Erivo shared the authentic film poster afterwards “to remind you and cleanse your palate.”

Director Jon M. Chu supported Erivo’s comments on his Instagram Story, posting her statement with the correct image and stating, “♥♥♥ @cynthiaerivo is my superhero ♥♥♥.”

Cynthia Erivo Feels ‘Very Protective’ of Elphaba

At CinemaCon in April, Erivo discussed how the characters Elphaba and Glinda have been “two roles that have had such a significant impact on our lives and carry much meaning for us.”

Grande added they both understood the gravity of their roles and “invested our hearts, our souls, so many lashes, wands, and we gave everything we could.”

“I just need to take it one day at a time,” Erivo told YSL News earlier in the year about potentially her most high-profile role yet. “I hope viewers connect with the film and realize that not fitting in is something to celebrate. For me, that’s the main aim of this. I adored playing (Elphaba). I felt a strong protective instinct towards her.”

Erivo also hinted at a possible directing career, influenced by her Oscar-winning co-star Michelle Yeoh.

“(Yeoh) casually asked me, ‘So when are you going to start directing?'” Erivo recounted. “My mind was blown because I hadn’t said anything; I’m still new to it. And she said, ‘I can totally see it.’ So if Michelle Yeoh believes in me – and she’s collaborated with everyone – I might really need to think about it more seriously.”

In the “Wizard of Oz” prequel, Elphaba (Erivo) — who isn’t yet the Wicked Witch of the West — attends Shiz University, where she clashes with the popular girl Glinda (Grande). A social outcast due to her green skin, Elphaba possesses immense magical potential, and the two very different young women develop an unexpected friendship, with Elphaba eventually inviting Glinda to Oz when summoned by the not-so-pleasant Wizard (Jeff Goldblum).

This is just the beginning of their journey, which will be detailed over two high-budget musical films. “Wicked” is set to hit theaters on November 22, and its sequel is slated for November 26, 2025.