The anti-green skin rhetoric prevalent in Wicked has prompted the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) to issue a trigger warning pertaining to “discrimination.” According to the regulatory body, observing the mistreatment of “beloved characters” may prove to be “upsetting and poignant” for certain segments of the audience.
Elphaba, the formidable Wicked Witch of the West, portrayed by the talented British actress and singer Cynthia Erivo, endures a tumultuous childhood fraught with bullying stemming from her distinctive green complexion. This incessant harassment inflicts deep emotional scars, culminating in scenes that the BBFC describes as “emotional and distressing,” until her eventual acceptance.
Furthermore, regulators have highlighted instances of a disabled woman in a wheelchair who is subjected to condescending treatment by able-bodied individuals, alongside the persecution of anthropomorphic animals within this fantastical society as additional rationale for the content warning and PG rating. Elements such as “occasional threatening scenes,” “brief moments of terror,” and an ending that is “not wholly reassuring” were duly considered in the rating process.
The BBFC guidelines for PG ratings explicitly assert that discriminatory language or conduct “should be clearly disapproved of,” allowing for limited usage if context justifies it—specifically if it is reclaimed or historical in nature without any malicious intent. Notably, a study conducted by the BBFC in 2021 revealed that parents favor content warnings regarding racism and discrimination to facilitate informed viewing choices while simultaneously recognizing the value in exposing children to these issues as preparation for real-world experiences.
The BBFC’s decision concerning Wicked has elicited mixed responses. Writer Simon Evans derided the content warning in an interview with The Daily Mail, labeling it “ridiculous and counterproductive,” suggesting it diminishes excitement and drapes the narrative in an atmosphere more akin to a corporate seminar than a cinematic experience.
Conversely, columnist Stuart Heritage articulated a defense of the BBFC’s rationale in The Guardian, positing that Elphaba’s green skin serves as a powerful allegory for racial prejudice—an assertion elucidating the organization’s moral obligation to highlight the contentious depictions underlying Wicked‘s PG classification.
Vocabulary List:
- Rhetoric /ˈrɛtərɪk/ (noun): The art of effective or persuasive speaking or writing.
- Prevalent /ˈprɛvələnt/ (adjective): Widespread in a particular area at a particular time.
- Poignant /ˈpɔɪnjənt/ (adjective): Evoking a keen sense of sadness or regret.
- Tumultuous /tjuːˈmʌltʃuəs/ (adjective): Characterized by unrest or disorder.
- Condensing /kənˈdɛn.sɪŋ/ (verb): Making something denser or more concise.
- Discrimination /dɪsˌkrɪməˈneɪʃən/ (noun): The unjust or prejudicial treatment of different categories of people.
How much do you know?
Who is the formidable Wicked Witch of the West in the story of <i>Wicked</i>?
Which actress portrayed Elphaba in the <i>Wicked</i> film?
What prompted the British Board of Film Classification to issue a trigger warning for "discrimination" in <i>Wicked</i>?
Which publication did writer Simon Evans criticize the content warning of <i>Wicked</i>?
What did columnist Stuart Heritage posit about Elphaba's green skin in <i>Wicked</i>?
What type of scenes were considered in the PG rating of <i>Wicked</i>?
The BBFC guidelines allow unlimited usage of discriminatory language or conduct.
The mistreatment of Elphaba in <i>Wicked</i> is described as "emotional and distressing" by the BBFC.
Parents prefer content warnings regarding racism and discrimination according to a study by the BBFC in 2021.
The content warning for <i>Wicked</i> was praised by writer Simon Evans in an interview.
Elphaba eventually finds acceptance and redemption in the story of <i>Wicked</i>.
The ending of <i>Wicked</i> is described as wholly reassuring by the BBFC.
According to the BBFC, discriminatory language or conduct should be clearly of.
The disabled woman in a wheelchair in <i>Wicked</i> is subject to condescending treatment by individuals.
The BBFC study in 2021 revealed that parents favor content warnings regarding racism and discrimination to facilitate viewing choices.
Writer Simon Evans criticized the content warning in an interview with .
Elphaba’s green skin in <i>Wicked</i> is posited by columnist Stuart Heritage as a powerful allegory for prejudice.
The BBFC’s decision concerning <i>Wicked</i> has elicited responses.