Wicked is about race, its costume designer claims

Wicked's costume designer has said that the musical starring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo tells a story about race and how society can 'vilify' people for their appearance.

Tony-Award winning Paul Tazewall told British newspaper The Telegraph that the character Elphaba, who has green skin, 'resonates with race and how we as modern people see difference in race and how we vilify people of a different race'.

He added that the theme of the film is 'hugely pro-women' and that it will 'resonate in a very strong way for women throughout'. 

It comes as actress Erivo said earlier this year that it was 'no coincidence' that she was chosen for the role. 

'Elphaba's story is the cautionary tale of what it can sometimes mean to have to stand in your individuality, your otherness, even when systems of oppression are set against you,' she said in a speech at the Los Angeles LGBT Center's Annual Gala earlier this year. 

Jon Chu's adaptation of the beloved Broadway production tells the story of Elphaba, who becomes the Wicked Witch of the West in The Wizard of Oz, and of Glinda, the good witch.

After a frenzied press  tour and weeks of anticipation, the film will be released in cinemas around the world today. 

It comes as Grande was accused of 'queerbaiting' while reflecting in her Wicked character's sexuality in a recent interview when she revealed that she thought Glinda 'might be a little in the closet'. 

The comments were made when the actress and singer sat down with UK outlet Gay Times and was asked about fans who ship Glinda and Elphaba as a romantic duo. 

Grande also said Oz is a 'celebration of uniqueness' adding, 'everyone is just so beautifully queer and that  oots all the way back to the L. Frank Baum books, where, like, literally the most commonly used word in the books is ''queer''.'

The star went on to say that 'everyday in the Emerald City [the capital city of the fictional Land of Oz] is a Pride parade... even like the chickens, those chickens are gay.' 

Following the interview fans quickly took online, with one writing: 'the queerbaiting is getting too out of hand.'

Queerbaiting is a marketing technique in which creators hint at same-sex romance or other LGBTQ+ representation, without actually depicting it.

Another asked: 'Why can't they just be platonic?'

'OH????' another one simply said.

Another fan added: 'ariana reposting gelphie memes onto her story, liking a post abt the flower fields being lesbian colored, saying the boy is mine is about elphaba, and then saying glinda is in the closet…'

The Wicked stage adaptation debuted on Broadway in 2003 and is based on Gregory Maguire's 1995 novel - set before Dorothy Gale's arrival in Oz as told in The Wizard of Oz - and the 1939 film classic. 

The musical production is still going strong 21 years later, currently the fourth longest-running Broadway production in history.