Ariana Grande was paid 15 times more than Cynthia Erivo for her role in "Wicked"

Question

According to a leaked salary list of the actors from the new hit musical-movie adaptation "Wicked", Ariana Grande was paid $15 million for her supporting role, while Cynthia Erivo, the star, was only paid $1 million.

Comments

The claim that Ariana Grande was paid 15 times more than Cynthia Erivo for their roles in "Wicked" is unfounded. A Universal Pictures spokesperson stated, "Reports of pay disparity between Cynthia and Ariana are completely false and based on internet fodder. The women received equal pay for their work on 'Wicked.'" (People, 2024).
This clarification addresses rumors that Grande earned $15 million while Erivo received $1 million. Such claims have been debunked by official sources, confirming that both actresses received equal compensation for their roles. (Screen Rant, 2024)

In summary, the assertion of a significant pay disparity between Grande and Erivo in "Wicked" is inaccurate, as both were paid equally for their performances.

https://people.com/ariana-grande-cynthia-erivo-equal-pay-for-wicked-roles-8752249?utm_source=chatgpt.com

https://screenrant.com/wicked-movie-ariana-grande-cynthia-erivo-salary-pay-dispute-explained-universal-response/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Answer 1

These rumors were started on TikTok and Reddit, and quickly spread. The Hollywood Reporter talked to a Universal spokesperson who stated, "Reports of pay disparity between Cynthia and Ariana are completely false and based on internet fodder. The women received equal pay for their work on Wicked.”

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/wicked-ariana-grande-cynthia-erivo-paid-equal-1236071760/

Comments

factcheck is short and straight to the point, which I prefer. I agree with you that this is not much more than a rumor meant to grab people's attention, but when it comes to factchecking I would suggest using a more credible source to back your factcheck up (the Hollywood Reporter is probably not the most sound resource). I would like to see more analysis on the actual source of the claim and maybe even something on how/why the rumor started. Happy factchecking!

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This fact check is very well done and straight to the point. I appreciate how you acknowledged where the unequal pay rumor was coming from and how it had spread, and then found a credible source to disprove it.

Answer 2

The pay disparity between Cynthia and Ariana, is False. It's speculation from Reddit, then went to TikTok and X. The rumor started, from fanbases arguing that Cynthia was paid millions of dollars less then Ari because she is a person of color. It started a feud across media platforms, as the "arianators" claiming that she deserves to get paid more because she is the bigger star, and will give the film more publicity. A spokesperson for Universal said, “The women received equal pay for their work on '‘Wicked.’”

https://www.cnn.com/2024/11/27/entertainment/cynthia-erivo-ariana-grande-wicked-pay/index.html

Answer 3

The pay disparity between the two actors was debunked as 'internet chatter' according to production company Universal Studios spokesperson. Universal Studios was responsible for the release of the movie Wicked and claimed that both women were paid equally. This information can be found via sources such as Variety and CNN, both reputable news sources. Additionally, this news source pulled direct quotes from the spokesperson from the production company. The website used, mirror.co.uk, is a gossip website that releases information with very little reputable evidence. Below I've attached the articles from Variety and CNN that provide factual evidence.

https://variety.com/2024/film/news/ariana-grande-cynthia-erivo-wicked-equal-pay-1236223851/

https://www.elle.com/culture/movies-tv/a63023892/wicked-ariana-grande-paid-more-cynthia-erivo-rumor-explained/

Answer 4

A spokesperson for Universal said in a statement shared with several outlets. “The women received equal pay for their work on 'Wicked.'

- https://www.cnn.com/2024/11/27/entertainment/cynthia-erivo-ariana-grande-wicked-pay/index.html#:~:text=%E2%80%9CReports%20of%20pay%20disparity%20between,'%E2%80%9D

Answer 5

In a statement to the Hollywood Reporter, a Universal spokesperson said the rumors of pay disparity between Grande and Erivo are false. Additionally, the article linked to this post does not confirm any validity of the leaked salary list circulating on social media, nor does not source the list. It also names the $15 million to Grande and $1 million to Erivo as "rumored salaries."

The Hollywood Reporter is the primary source who obtained a statement from the Universal Spokesperson: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/wicked-ariana-grande-cynthia-erivo-paid-equal-1236071760/