Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo Pay Clarified by Universal After Disparity Rumors

Universal clarified pay disparity rumors surrounding Evilwhich alleges that Ariana Grande-Butera and Cynthia Erivo were not paid the same amount. After the release of The Wizard of OzMusical and unsubstantiated allegations have appeared online claiming that the lead actors in the cast of Evil they did not receive equal remuneration for their shares. Rumor has it that Grande-Butera earned $15 million for her role as Galinda, while Erivo received $1 million for her role as Elphaba. These were later reported by media outlets which increased pressure on the still unconfirmed information.

Now, The Hollywood Reporter received a statement from an unnamed Universal spokesperson who confirmed Grande-Butera and Erivo received equal compensation for their roles in Evil. The spokesperson addressed the rumor as “internet fodder,” something THR says has been supported by other sources with knowledge of how much the film’s stars were paid. Check out what Universal’s spokesperson had to say below:

Reports of a pay gap between Cynthia and Ariana are completely false and based on information from the Internet. Women received equal pay for their work in Evil.

What Universal’s statement says about Wicked’s pay gap

Rumors on the Internet are easy to spread

Despite the lack of substantial information about how much Grande-Butera and Erivo were paid, rumors still spread easily online that they were paid unequally. Given EvilDespite the impressive box office numbers, the anger sparked by this rumor is understandable, as it would be unfair for the protagonists to have such different salaries. It also wouldn’t make sense given their equal importance throughout the film’s long history. Fortunately, this is not actually the case, with the statement being a cautionary tale about how easily misinformation can spread across digital spaces.

Additionally, Universal’s statement emphasizes how much money was spent on Evil from the start, with $350 million immediately invested in the two-part musical. It wouldn’t make sense for the studio to spend so much money perfecting the film, only to give the lead actor less pay than his co-star. While This discrepancy is, unfortunately, something that can and does happen in Hollywoodthe unsubstantiated nature of the original rumor already indicated that it was not true, making the official response unsurprising.

Our Take on Wicked Pay Rumor Being Dispelled

It was important for Universal to address

Although the rumors about Grande-Butera and Erivo’s salary discrepancies were not true, it was important for Universal to address them directly to dispel the rumors. It also helps to emphasize how much work both actors put into their roles to make them come true, highlighted by the equal pay they both received. With Evil becoming a box office hit from its opening weekend, this confirmation that there is no pay inequality helps elevate its already stellar public perception.

Source: THR