Wicked mania has officially hit, and it’s becoming increasingly difficult to escape constant pop-cultural references to the Land of Oz, Elphaba, Galinda, and the great Bowen Yang in arguably the gayest supporting role of all time. (Let me be clear: This is a major compliment.) While the moviegoing experience itself is obviously the pinnacle of the whole Wicked thing, there’s also plenty of fun to be had in participating in the online discourse; below, find a roundup of our very favorite Wicked memes.
Holding space for ‘Defying Gravity’
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This particular meme is drawn from an interview between Wicked stars Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo and Out reporter Tracy E. Gilchrist, who said to Erivo: “I’ve seen this week, people are taking the lyrics of ‘Defying Gravity’ and really holding space with that and feeling power in that.” Is this a nutso way to refer to…people listening to a song? Yes. Am I going to be repeating “really holding space with that and feeling power in that” for the rest of the holiday season? Of course. I am in queer media, after all!
Gaylinda
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Grande herself weighed in on the popular Wicked fan theory that Elphaba and Galinda may be more than just friends, telling the Gay Times: “Whether it’s romantic or platonic, or you know…maybe Glinda might be a little in the closet. But if there were a time? Y’know, you never know! Give it a little time! I mean, it is just a true love. And I think that transcends sexuality. It’s just kind of a deep safety within each other. And that’s why they probably ship it.” Obviously, the internet has run with this interpretation, and obviously, I love it (as does no less a Galinda authority than Kristen Chenoweth).
Dorothy missing out on the bullet train to Oz
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Honestly, this increasingly popular TikTok meme does raise a valid question: Why did Galinda make Dorothy walk to Emerald City when there was fully a bullet train available? Just to punish her a little bit more? Or to get her step count up? Whichever it is, I respect it.
Color Grading Wicked
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Wicked director Jon M. Chu has hit back against accusations that the film is a little too drab, saying:” “I mean, there’s color all over it. I think what we wanted to do was immerse people into Oz, to make it a real place. Because if it was a fake place, if it was a dream in someone’s mind, then the real relationships and the stakes that these two girls are going through wouldn’t feel real.” Luckily, the ongoing color-grading conversation has led to some standout memes.
“The Wicked Witch of the East, Bro!”
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This meme, which was borne out of a YouTube video featuring a heated debate about Glinda’s relationship to the various Wicked Witches in her life, actually predates the release of the film, but Grande and Jimmy Fallon just re-created it to excellent effect.
