Original Wicked star Kristen Chenoweth offers a direct response to the outcry by the One Million Moms group to boycott the 2024 movie adaptation of the 2003 stage musical. Chenoweth was the first actor to portray Galinda Upland, the woman who would become Glinda the Good Witch, in the stage musical adaptation of Gregory Maguire’s reimagining of L. Frank Baum’s The Wizard of Oz. In the 2024 movie adaptation, the Wicked cast sees Ariana Grande-Butera take on the role of Galinda, while Cynthia Erivo takes on the role of future Wicked Witch, Elphaba Thropp.

While Wicked continues to soar high at the box office, Chenoweth took to Instagram to call out an effort to instigate a boycott of the movie by Conservative activist group One Million Moms.

When responding to the post above by Out Magazine, the actor, who appears as a Wizomania stage performer in the movie during the “One Short Day” musical number, directly responded to the group and their efforts by stating they were just a vocal minority. Chenoweth further called out the group for hiding behind religion to justify their bigotry, stating she herself is Christian and still played a pivotal role in the show’s reputation:

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.

After dismissing the group’s efforts, Chenoweth urged those interested in Wicked to go see the feature in whatever form possible, be it on stage or in movie theaters. Check out Chenoweth’s conclusion below:

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.

Why Chenoweth’s One Million Moms Callout Is Important

The Group Has Targeted Many Projects To Push Their Anti-LGBTQ+ Stances

Founded by the Christian fundamentalist and anti-LGBTQ group, the American Family Association, One Million Moms are infamous for their efforts to boycott and protest media they claim would be harmful to young audiences, including comic publishers Marvel and DC, adverts for Burger King, and Toy Story 4. In the case of Wicked, the group has claimed that the movie promotes “witchcraft”, an “LGBTQ” agenda, and “Wokeness”.

It is clear that One Million Moms’ efforts are rooted in bigotry, especially with the feature featuring at least five LGBTQ+ performers in leading roles, including Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Marissa Rose, Bronwyn James, and Bowen Yang. As such, Chenoweth’s defense and direct callout of the group is incredibly welcome in the face of such a clear and direct attack. Furthermore, with Wicked dominating the box office, it is clear that the group’s efforts cannot bring the movie down.

Our Thoughts On Chenoweth’s Wicked Defence

Wicked Is A Tale Of Fighting Bigotry

Wicked is a tale about taking a stand against upheaval, speaking up for those without voices in the face of overwhelming hatred, and overcoming prejudice. A core part of Elphaba’s character is her desire to stand up for those who are different, and her arc sees her learn how the people of Oz have been brainwashed into attacking a minority that has been turned into scapegoats for the land’s tragedies via propaganda. It is a phenomenon that the LGBTQ+ community has faced in both in the past and at the time of writing, and groups such as One Million Moms have played a part in this cycle of violence.

As such, while the organization themselves may simply be a small but incredibly loud group whose connections enable them to have a notable presence, Chenoweth’s powerful takedown is a welcome stance for both the movie’s LGBTQ+ performers, and the audiences who enjoy it. As one of the key individuals in establishing the original show’s reputation, it is clear that Chenoweth perfectly embodies Wicked’s messages and values.