Elphaba's 'Sex Cardigan' Sparks Debate Among 'Wicked: For Good' Viewers

Has a fictional character’s piece of clothing ever had a greater social impact than Elphaba’s chunky knit sweater in Wicked: For Good?

The item of clothing has become known by fans as the “sex cardigan,” after Cynthia Erivo’s character sported the relaxed-fit shrug atop black lingerie before getting intimate with Jonathan Bailey’s Fiyero in the film. In the scene, Elphaba and Fiyero belt out an enchanting rendition of “As Long as You’re Mine” before doing the deed, but her outfit choice is pretty much all anyone can talk about since the film’s Friday, November 21, release.

The look certainly drummed up mixed reactions from fans on social media, with some explaining that they were fully on board with Elphaba’s cozy attire, referring to it as “the fashion moment of the year.”

“Those who are hating on elphaba’s cardigan just don’t know the powers a truly comfy cardigan can hold over a girl,” one X user wrote, while another said, “Y’all are laughing at Elphaba’s ‘sex cardigan’ as if Anthropologie isn’t currently planning to sell that thing for $140 and people will buy it. #WickedForGood.”

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Another X user quipped, “Why is everyone saying elphabas cardigan is ugly do i just have bad taste??,” as a fourth person wrote, “Unironically id love the elphaba cardigan like a full blanket just hugging you? Sign me tf up!!!”

“Y’all calling it Elphaba’s sex cardigan is taking me out lol…but it’s also good to know that I wasn’t the only one who wanted one as soon as she put it on,” another fan of the cozy jumper wrote.

Others weren’t so keen on the outfit choice, with one X user writing, “Can’t enjoy the damn song cause I keep getting flashbacks of that ugly ass cardigan elphaba wore.”

A second person who wasn’t a fan of the look said, “Elphaba’s sex cardigan is so insanely distracting in wicked 2.”

“That cardigan is ridiculous,” a third person echoed, as a fourth person mentioned, “Forget Elphaba having a sex cardigan, I’m still astounded they got away with Fiyero & Elphaba having offscreen sex in a ‘family movie’ to begin with. AND MAINTAINED THAT PG RATING. Welcome back BIG-era PG rating.”

The scene itself has caused quite the stir with some viewers of the PG film, including influencer Sara Burnett, who revealed via Instagram on Sunday, November 23, that she walked out of the theater with her children during the steamy moment.

“I am not sitting in a movie that is casting legit spells over me and my family and allowing my children to watch scenes where men are sexually taking off women’s clothing and music that is talking about them laying in bed together. & I have a feeling that the spells cast in this movie weren’t just some made up words.. they had purpose in them!” she captioned her post. “The Bible tells us to stay far away from that and my children even looked at me with big eyes and felt uncomfortable in certain parts of the movie. The mom gut knew it was time to walk out.”

She continued, “Now if you’ve watched the movie and loved it, that’s fine! This is our personal conviction and I we feel strongly about things our girls watch and the spirits we allow in us. — on another note, this was a great learning moment for our kids. Learning that when we are in situations that we don’t feel are right then we need the courage to walk away. I have a feeling this won’t be the last time that our girls have to walk away from a situation that isn’t from the Lord.”