Disclaimer: The following article contains mentions of eating disorders, and opinions from Wicked fans, which are then analyzed.
The much-awaited Wicked movie is finally on wheels with promotions. There is an outcry about how the considerable weight loss of its star characters, Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, has attracted more attention towards such actresses who are known best for top-notch performances, looks, and noticeable changes in appearance.
The viral post on X (formerly Twitter) about before-and-after pictures of the Wicked leads was made by @lSoldKenCrack. Fans have had a lot to say, wondering if maybe they were not getting enough nutrition, had eating disorders, or taking weight loss drugs. Posts about the physical changes haven't stopped.
Let's look at how some Wicked fans react to all this speculative buzz.
"Are they getting starved?" – @ryanranime
Ryan's tweet displays a rising concern as fans ask whether the change is due to some unhealthy habit. Since the debate about body image long before, many are concerned whether such a changed look may refer to any serious matter.
"The differences in quality and lighting" – @sweetenerpacket
Layla retorts at the excitement, suggesting that the stark contrast between "before" and "after" photos is more about unflattering angles and lighting than any actual drastic changes in the health of the Wicked stars.
She makes a point - how the images are presented can vary widely with how people see them.
"Judy Garland was only allowed to eat apples and smoke cigarettes to keep her from gaining weight" – @RSY_VK_01
This fan compares the current treatment by Wicked to Judy Garland when making The Wizard of Oz. RSY tells followers that past Hollywood habits have often caused very strict dieting, which makes some fans concerned about similar treatment for Grande and Erivo.
"Using bad photos with bad lighting" – @tankingasf
This user attacks the posting of poor-quality images for wrong guesses about the health of actresses. This is a common technique used in blogs or any other type of online speaking, where topics of actual concern give way to how media is exploited for shock value.
"Wickzempic" – @biglatin9
The word play here indicates the speculation that drugs like Ozempic (the weight loss wonder drug) were used. Fans who speculate such can notice how fast and considerable the weight loss has been. This is indicated as a possible sign.
"This movie really sucked the live out of them" – @imliagray
Lia's tweet suggests that shooting for Wicked was not a cakewalk and may have scarred the actress's health. This statement indicates that looking a certain way for the movie promotion may have caused some damage to their health.
The history of body image pressures in Hollywood
Hollywood has long been accused of promoting unreal beauty standards. Women, too, were not exempt from the need to fit a mold. One of the earliest and most tragic examples is Judy Garland. She was subject to brutal weight loss strategies during filming The Wizard of Oz.
The same issue is a concern for stars of Wicked nowadays. The fans are concerned whether Grande and Erivo's changes are part of the same issue. These pressures on body image not only harm the actors' health but also set about keeping unreal standards for fans to copy.
In modern times, social media makes everything about a celebrity public, which increases pressure on them. Celebrities are generally criticized for gaining weight, but similar judgments are passed if they lose weight too quickly or dramatically.
The question is: how far would the industry go to stretch such an image, and what price are talented individuals expected to pay?
Ozempic and celebrity weight loss transformations, as suspected on Wicked stars
In recent years, much publicity has been given to the weight loss medicine Ozempic, particularly among the celebrity crowd. Ozempic was designed as a type 2 diabetes treatment but has many practitioners as a treatment for obesity because it reduces hunger.
Most Wicked fans believe it has something to do with celebrities like Grande and Erivo, who lost their weight quickly. However, this kind of medicine can damage health, even if it is used for an aesthetic purpose.
Some praise Ozempic as being very effective, while others warn that it has side effects like nausea and stomach upset, and they question whether the benefits of using it to gain weight are worthwhile. In a world in which appearance often trumps talent, it comes as little surprise that some will take extreme measures to conform to their ideal appearance.
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Wicked will be in United States theatres beginning November 22, 2024.
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