“Wicked” stars Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo were paid the same amount for starring roles in the movie musical, Universal Pictures said in a rare statement on the matter, seeking to dispel online rumors about pay discrepancies.

False stories about Grande and Erivo’s compensation for their work on “Wicked” circulated over the weekend as media outlets like the New York Post reported on unfounded claims from TikTok and Reddit users that Grande was paid $15 million for the role of Glinda the Good earned while Erivo received $1 million to portray Elphaba, the future Wicked Witch of the West.

“Reports of pay discrepancies between Cynthia and Ariana are completely false and based on internet material,” a Universal spokesperson said in a statement. “The women received equal pay for their work on Wicked.”

Of course, the studio behind the big-budget musical refused to confirm the amount Grande and Erivo received.

Jon M. Chu directed “Wicked,” an adaptation of the first act of the hit Broadway show about everything that happens before Dorothy lands in Oz. Set before, during and after the events of The Wizard of Oz, the story follows the unlikely friendship of green-skinned Elphaba (later known as the Wicked Witch of the West) and her sassy, ​​pink-loving roommate Galinda (later known). called Glinda the Good).

“Wicked” opened the weekend with $112 million in North America and $164 million worldwide, making it the third-best domestic debut of the year and the highest of any Broadway adaptation. “Wicked: Part Two,” a chronicle of the musical’s second act, will hit theaters in 2025. Universal spent a total of $300 million producing the two films, not including the ambitious, expensive Pink and Green marketing efforts.