Marissa Bode’s Comment About a ‘Power-Hungry Dictator’ Removed From ‘Wicked’ Concert Special

NBC’s new Wicked: One Wonderful Night special was a celebration of the music and magic of Jon M. Chu’s live-action duology, but apparently, there wasn’t any room for mention of one of the project’s most important core themes.

According to numerous outlets who were at the live-music event’s taping, Marissa Bode — who portrays Nessa Rose in the musical films — referenced how the character of Elphaba, played by Cynthia Erivo, stands up to a “power-hungry dictator” while introducing the next number of the night, “Defying Gravity.” However, the remark was apparently cut from the special when it aired Thursday night (Nov. 6) on NBC and Peacock.

Instead, Bode’s words were capped at “The song is an ode to authenticity and about believing in yourself no matter what obstacles the world puts in your way. Performing ‘Defying Gravity,’ please welcome the incredible Cynthia Erivo.”

Billboard has reached out to Bode’s reps and NBC for comment.

Though the “power-hungry dictator” comment didn’t make it into the special, those who were at the September taping in Los Angeles reported Bode earned a standing ovation immediately after making the statement. Though she did not specifically draw comparisons to any real-life politicians, her words came shortly after a wave of “No Kings” rallies in the United States, with participants protesting what they believe to be fascist policies in President Donald Trump’s administration.

Bode’s comment was strictly in reference to the character of the Wizard of Oz, who uses propaganda to manipulate and deceive his subjects in Wicked. But if it was cut due to any real-life parallels, it wouldn’t be the first time in recent memory that a major-network program was censored for politically related reasons. In September, Jimmy Kimmel Live! was briefly suspended after the late-night host remarked that MAGA Republicans had attempted to change the narrative about the person who shot and killed conservative commentator Charlie Kirk earlier that month.

Wicked: One Wonderful Night was otherwise a big hit, with Ariana Grande, Ethan Slater, Bowen Yang and more of the films’ cast coming together with Bode and Erivo to perform music from the movies. Arriving almost exactly one year after Wicked first premiered, Wicked: For Good is set to hit theaters on Nov. 21.