Kristin Chenoweth hit a new level of #Goals for me when she declared she doesn’t get up before 11am, and doesn’t speak before noon. I have the night owl tendencies to justify the first part, but not the golden, operatic singing voice like Kristin’s to justify the second. So it goes. It’s also been a delight to watch Kristin, the OG Glinda when Wicked opened on Broadway in 2003, be such a visible presence on the premiere trail for the movie adaptation that is currently defying box office gravity. The show is a huge part of her life — hell, she even named her memoir A Little Bit Wicked — and she is still proud of it. Which is why Kristin recently piped up (presumably after 12pm), against a boycott of the movie. Long-time haters One Million Moms have started a petition asking parents not to see Wicked because of its magical and LGBTQ content. Witches and sorcery and gay people, oh my!
Kristin Chenoweth is clapping back at One Million Moms after the organization started a boycott of the Wicked movie.
The conservative group’s latest petition asks parents to pledge to not see Jon M. Chu’s movie musical due to it “pushing the LGBTQ agenda on families, particularly children.”
“Of course, the musical contains a tremendous amount of witchcraft and sorcery, and that content prompts most parents to avoid taking their children to see Wicked. But the film also shows not-so-discrete crossdressing and men crushing on men, which parents may not expect,” the petition states. “Instead of an uplifting Broadway musical about friendship and family, talents and resources were used to create a dark movie that also pushes wokeness.”
Chenoweth, who originated the role of Glinda in the Broadway musical of Wicked in 2003, responded to One Million Moms’ petition, writing in a comment on Instagram, “Everyone knows the ‘one million Moms’ are a mere few hundred. Maybe. it’s called entertainment. Artistry. I am a Christian woman or originated the role of Glinda and all the silliness that these women spew out of hate. No no no. I can’t help it : i try to love em anyways. For they don’t get it. For anyone who wants to see girl power, then go so WICKED. Onstage or in a movie theater.”
The movie adaptation of the beloved stage musical stars Arianda Grande as Galinda and Cynthis Erivo as Elphaba. Wicked, which tells the untold story of the witches of Oz, has been met with box office success since opening in theaters Nov. 22, scoring the highest opening for a Broadway adaptation.
Bless their hearts, the title of One Million Moms’ petition reads, “Warning: ‘Wicked’ Not Only Includes Witchcraft But Also LGBTQ Content!” Plus the line quoted above about parents naturally opting not to take their kids to see Wicked because of the sorcery! It’s the legitimate fear of witchcraft content that kills me. As for the LGBTQ content in Wicked, which the petition says “blindsided” them, I can see how the themes of a 20-year-old musical based on a 30-year-old novel written by an out and proud author (and family man!) really must have caught them off guard. (Note: previous line to be read with sarcasm.) If you read the entire petition, which I did so you didn’t have to, OMM seem to coalesce their grievance around the idea that the filmmakers are sneaking these “woke” themes (of magic and gay feelings) into a children’s film. To which my response is, who said Wicked was a children’s film? The book is squarely for the young adult audience, and I always thought the musical hit that sweet spot as well? Somewhere between a Disney musical and Spring Awakening is where I see Wicked. If these parents are being “blindsided,” they haven’t done their homework and are probably just assuming that Wicked is just like The Wizard of Oz. Which, incidentally, I’d love to know if they consider to be a wholesome film for children, because it still has plenty of witches and sorcery. Or is it ok to have the dark arts in a movie so long as they’re depicted as BAD with no gray areas?
Anyway, thank you to Kristin the Good Witch, for using all of her 4’11” to stand up for girl power, artistry, and love over hate. Now, who gets to have the fun of telling these small-minded moms that nearly all of the musicals they love come from the genius of gay artists? Also, here’s hoping none of these moms picked up the Wicked Barbies with packaging that linked to an adult website!
Photos credit: Getty Images for Netflix and via Netflix press and Instagram
It’s not a children’s movie, and it’s like that group has never seen a children’s movie. So many, especially the older ones, are filled with dark and borderline horrific storylines and no one blinked at showing those movies to kids. But a little magic and wishful glances and their pearls are clutched so tightly.
I would really like to know if these women were OK with the original Wizard of Oz movie. Possibly not, I just never thought about it; but then again, I did live in Georgia for six years. I had a coworker who thought Dungeons & Dragons was the work of the devil, wouldn’t let their kids read or watch the Harry Potter books/movies, and never let their kids trick or treat at Halloween. All works of the devil, you see.
I never thought of this as a kids movie. I haven’t seen the musical but again, didn’t get the impression that’s aimed at kids.
How draining to constantly be looking for things to be outraged by.
1. I don’t actually know much about Wicked in general, so I wouldn’t have known about the LGBTQ content (nor would I GAF). Sometimes movies with themes about good and evil can be scary for little ones, and it’s up to the parents themselves to know how their kids will fare. That’s called parenting, and it’s not the movie studio’s responsibility.
2. These million moms remind me of the idiots who took their kids to see Deadpool, with its R rating and description of “merc with the mouth, “ then complained about how inappropriate it was for kids.
I saw Rocky Horror Picture Show when I was seven and I turned out fine but I can’t believe how ridiculous people are about sheltering their kids. My stepmom never let my younger step siblings, both of whom are adults now, read Harry Potter or see the movies, because it was too scary. I had to work extra hard to censor the subtitles on my face when I learned that.
You tell ‘em Kristen!
Seriously she’s right that extremely conservative Christians avoid certain shows because of the magical content (although here I think it’s anlso about the LGBTQ content) on the theory that it lets in the devil. My grandmother was horrified that I read Harry Potter ((and I was an adult by the time we had the conversation). Which I found hysterical because IF SHE HAD ACTUALLY READ IT she would have seen that it was a savior story that heavily parallels Jesus’ sacrificial death to save humanity. But for some reason Lord of the Rings is a great thing to read?
My Evangelical Christian family taught me to spurn yoga because it’s Satan’s entryway to stealing the soul. They don’t believe in magic but do believe in miracles and think there’s constant “spiritual warfare” happening. They’re also the most judgmental & gossipy group of people I’ve ever encountered despite the whole “judge not lest ye be judged” instruction from the Big J himself. Hypocrisy is a feature, not a bug.
🙄
My sister became really religious in HS. Randomly my parents are not despite us growing up in a very religious area of GA. Anyways, she would constantly tell me I was going to hell for reading Harry Potter and refused to go and see the first movie. Fast forward however many years later and now she’s obsessed with Harry Potter and loves going to universal for Potter world. She still pretty religious but maybe not as much of a zealot idk? Whereas now I’m like fuck JK Rowling and I don’t wana give that lady more money.
As a genre musicals aren’t my thing. Ariana Grande gets on my last nerve. I no longer have the attention span for long movies. All of this aside I may now go see Wicked because f’ the million moms.
Same. I love musicals but don’t like Ariana and I hate going to theaters now (because the audiences are freaking obnoxious) so I was going to wait to watch it from home but OMM has convinced me to go and support the movie and its artists.
They don’t like girl power either.
I’m guessing they also don’t like the ‘wokeness’ of having a black woman play the WWW when the original movie had a white woman. Both women had to be completely covered in green makeup, of course, but why let such details get in the way?
Yes, I honestly think it’s at least partially projection and truly based in racism and misogyny because my 8 year old has seen it twice and was completely enchanted and I’m not sure what the overt LGBTQ content they’re referring to even was because it didn’t even register for me that it was gay. Faux outrage created because a beautiful movie with a feminist message, calling out bigots and political charlatans in nuanced and culturally significant ways, dates to stare an incredibly talented black woman and have an inclusive cast. Of course they’re mad. These are the same women who voted for Trump. They’re in the cult. There was nothing offensive or controversial in this movie. It’s a modern fairytale and a parable/fable. It’s rated PG. The age ranges are absolutely enormous to see it.
Hasn’t that movie made like a half a billion dollars by now? Or more? Seems like the perpetually outraged are a little late to the game.
Right?! That ‘boycott’ will be a huge success s/
I don’t think the book is (or at least was intended to be) for the young adult audience at all – it’s a very mature/adult novel with political themes that I think would go over many YA readers’ heads. The stage musical is not something I would consider being for kids (I love it so much), but I also wouldn’t have a problem showing it to a kid who was old enough to sit through it. I haven’t seen the movie yet (I’m very salty they’ve split it into two tbh) but I cant imagine it’s not kid appropriate.
As I write this I cant stop thinking about the 1985 movie Return to Oz in which Dorothy escapes ELECTRIC SHOCK THERAPY and goes on a, frankly terrifying, journey to Oz. That movie gave me nightmares as a kid and yet I still love it.
My mom had to take us out of the theatre when we saw Return to Oz when the witch removed her head! We started screaming and had to leave.
Thanks for that point. I was in my mid-20s when I read it. I didn’t consider it Y/A at all, and I absolutely fell in love with the animal rights aspect.
Let me add clarification to the One “Million” Karens…er I mean Moms petition: Don’t see Wicked! It’s a movie that questions an oppressive, prejudicial establishment and may cause your toddlers to stand up for themselves and their friends while standing against hatred, bullying, and racism! Let’s keep those family values and your children in check and in line. Don’t let them think for themselves, now, as they grow up, or EVER! Please sign here.
I think the movie is family friendly but not a kid movie. I don’t remember any swear words, the lgbtq stuff would go over the kids’ heads and the magic is just there like in Harry Potter or the wizard of oz.
Just like the magic in Shrek, Frozen, Moana and also most every Disney movie. I thought movies were supposed to be about fantasy and imagination. I agree Wicked is more adult.
My daughter is early elementary aged and was absolutely riveted by this movie. She didn’t move a muscle and sat there mesmerized both times she went to see it, for three hours each time. It’s a kids movie for the kids who truly love musicals and musical theatre and who are old enough to understand the content.
They are worried about a 2003 Broadway musical going woke? Who’s going to tell them about 1949’s South Pacific?
OMM are boring and bigoted. Wicked is an adult book, although I’m sure teens read it
She’s from Oklahoma, the original land of televangelists (seriously, they’ve been there since the 50s, so she knows exactly who she’s talking about.
One of my favorite memes has been a 1950s picture of a guy looking at a truck engine and the caption says “Everything I don’t understand is woke. This engine is woke.” Sums it up perfectly.
Also, the evangelical responses I’ve read have been more along the lines of, they accurately saw themselves in the villains and hate that the movie is about defying “the natural order” of things. Honestly it’s one of the few times I remember them actually clocking who they are. (As someone who grew up in Baptist churches and has left that shit behind)
One million moms, which Kristen is totally right is approximately 100 moms, is a hate group that has been around for years trying (and failing) to boycott almost everything. I remember them screeching about the Real O’Neals and the Mick and they have accomplished absolutely nothing other than self-indignation.
Scratching my head here over the whole “LGBTQ agenda” with Wicked. No spoilers, but the leads and supporting characters are all attracted to opposite sex characters. It could actually use a bit more gay, in my opinion!
It seems like EVERYTHING in 🇺🇸 for the last several years is about hate…which is what happens when society/government NEVA takes a definitive stance against hate that dosen’t include appeasement…I applaud Kristen for her bravery for speaking against fascists…which is ALL the “Millon Moms” have been to me…
Wow, a million moms and not one of them knows the difference between discrete and discreet.
LOL
They also had a petition objecting to Kelly Clarkson saying “FUUUDDDGGGGEEEE” like Ralph on a Wayfair commercial with Peter Billingsley. OMM are insane…and stupid.
What? OMG!! 🤪🤣 They have WAY too much time on their hands!
No kidding and such delicate sensibilities!
I just saw Wicked over the weekend and enjoyed it! Even though Ariana tends to irritate me, her character sort of plays with that quality. But I mostly wanted to say that I was absolutely terrified of the original Wizard of Oz as a child (TBH, everything freaked me out as a kid). And it sounds like the moms are implying that the original did not have LGBTQ+ content in it – and again, go back and watch the 1939 movie.
Their boycott isn’t working as the movie has been very successful. Heck, “those” moms prob watched it too 🙄. They’re just Hypocrites.
The musical was first shown to audiences in the early 2000s and is a Very successful Broadway musical. I remembered watching it at the Pantages back then, and it was interesting to see an alternate story about the wicked witches of the west and east. The music was also amazing. No one complained back then 🙄🙄.
Honestly, what do these people even watch anyway?
What’s that stupid channel that Candace Cameron left Hallmark for? Family One or something? That’s probably it for these people. Well that and Fox News.
Oh, noes!… not the woke!
I’ve seen this show three times on stage and the movie once. I SWEAR I have no idea what LGBTQ content is there…. and even if there was, who cares, or even YAY!
OMM are full of it. I was way more damaged as a child by Bambi than anything else I ever saw. Don’t think it is a good movie for kids.
Love that OMM’s are horrified that a broadway musical is on the queer side. Music theatre is super queer and always has been. Why is this a shock?