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Wicked: For Good’s Cardigan Goes Viral as Filmmakers Explain the Choice

The creative team says the knit robe was a deliberate choice to convey Elphaba’s vulnerability.

Overview

  • A forest love scene featuring Elphaba layering a large gray knit over black lingerie has become a meme-filled cultural moment online.
  • Costume designer Paul Tazewell says the look, described as a peignoir, was developed with Cynthia Erivo to reflect a lived‑in, intimate home setting and the character’s comfort.
  • Erivo says she pushed for the piece to show softness and vulnerability at home, which she highlighted in recent comments and an Instagram post.
  • Director Jon M. Chu says he intentionally made the moment less sexual to fit the film’s approach, as coverage notes the scene remains PG-rated.
  • Reactions remain split between defenders and critics, with some viewers calling it distracting while others celebrate the cardigan’s character logic, and at least one parent influencer reporting a walkout; no changes to the film or its rating have been announced.