film & tv3 min(s) read
Horrified mom walks out of Wicked 2 with her kids over intimate scene
A mom’s movie night took a sharp turn when she decided to leave a screening of Wicked: For Good with her children after seeing content she deemed inappropriate.
Sara Burnett, a social media influencer and self-described “virtual hope spreader” and “anchor in Christ,” opened up about her experience with the PG-rated musical on Instagram. In a post dated November 23, Burnett shared her concerns about the film’s scenes and messages.
“Now hear me out — we LOVE theatre & musicals. We love appreciating the talents and God given gifts that people have. Seeing the acting, the arts and all the creativity,” she wrote. “But gosh, I am not sitting in a movie that is casting legit spells over me and my family and allowing my children (5yr old included) to watch scenes where men are sexually taking off women’s clothing and music that is talking about them laying in bed together.”
She also posted a video saying her kids were visibly uncomfortable during specific parts of the movie, which she says led her to follow her instincts. “The mom gut knew it was time to walk out.”
The PG rating didn’t sit well with all parents
Wicked: For Good, starring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, carries a PG rating from the Motion Picture Association for “action/violence, some suggestive material and thematic material.” But for Burnett, that warning didn’t go far enough.
“Now if you’ve watched the movie and loved it, that’s fine! This is our personal conviction and we feel strongly about things our girls watch and the spirits we allow in us,” she continued. “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.”
The film has sparked mixed reactions from parents. Influencer Ashley Jeans commented, “I’m the mom that wouldn’t have gone in the first place 😂 I’m proud of you 👏🏽,” while Katie Farrell added, “Yep the name says it all for me 🙂↔️.”
Fans divided over film’s content
Others pushed back, saying they saw no issue. One follower wrote, “So happy I took my kids to see it! They’re too little to read into any of it and they see all that stuff as icky anyways. My kids will grow up not hiding and having life normalized. So happy for them.”
Still, Burnett made it clear her post wasn’t about judgment but about standing by her values.
“Stand firm in your faith and always do what’s right,” she said. “Even if it’s not what the crowd is doing. It’s OK if you get made fun of or people think you’re silly because in the end, all that matters is what the Lord says about you. People think I’m crazy and ya know what?….. that’s okay 🙃.”
Despite the controversy, Wicked: For Good has soared at the box office, raking in an estimated $150 million in domestic sales during its opening weekend. It now holds the second-highest debut of the year, right behind A Minecraft Movie.