November 27, 2024
Rumours were making rounds about a large pay disparity between Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo.
Now, Universal has come forward to shut them down, adding that the costars received the same paydays.
In a statement, the studio's spokesman said, "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."
The studio, however, did not share the amount they paid to the actresses, according to THR.
However, according to the rumour, the 7 Rings singer was said to have earned $15 million to play Glinda while her fellow star took home $1 million to play Elphaba.
In the meantime, Ariana and Cynthia struck a solid friendship during the film's shooting.
"I think that was one of my most cherished parts of this experience: I felt held and like I had a friend every step of the way," the Grammy winner told The New York Times, highlighting her strong bond with the Tony winner. "I'm really proud of us for how genuinely we took care of each other throughout this whole time."