Kristin Chenoweth Claps Back at Anti-LGBTQ+ Group Calling for a ‘Wicked’ Boycott

As an anti-LGBTQ+ organization shared its loathing for the film adaptation of Wicked, Broadway superstar Kristin Chenoweth is pointing out that its opinion isn’t all that “Popular.”

In a new petition, One Million Moms (an offshoot of the conservative Christian non-profit the American Family Association) called on supporters to boycott the film, claiming that Wicked is “pushing the LGBTQ agenda on families, particularly children” through inclusive casting and openly queer characters while also promoting “witchcraft and sorcery.” The petition had just over 13,000 signatures at the time of this article publishing.

“Four of the film’s main characters are openly queer or gay in real life, or at the minimum, these actors have spoken about their queer experiences,” the petition reads, referring to stars Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Bowen Yang and Marissa Bode openly identifying as queer. “Obviously, this part of the movie is a nod to inclusivity, along with a blatant attempt by Universal to normalize same-sex crushes. Universal has now decided to be politically correct instead of providing family-friendly programming. But Universal should stick to family-friendly entertainment, particularly in children’s films, rather than pushing an agenda.”

Billboard has reached out to Universal Pictures for comment.

Chenoweth shared a comment under an Instagram post about the petition, where she used an eye-rolling emoji to sum up her feelings about the organization’s boycott. “Everyone knows the ‘one million Moms’ are a mere few hundred. Maybe,” she wrote. “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.”

The original Glinda previously agreed with Ariana Grande, who plays Glinda in the film, that the character “might be a little in the closet” when it comes to her sexuality. Responding to a clip of Grande saying that Glinda may have deeper feelings for Erivo’s Elphaba, Chenoweth concurred, saying, “I thought so too way back when….”