New Wicked film's most NSFW scene divides opinion - not for the reason you think

Warning: This article includes spoilers for Wicked: For Good

You may have seen the phrase 'the Wicked sex cardigan' floating around and wondering what on Earth it means - well, fear not, as we're here to explain.

The highly anticipated musical spin-off, Wicked: For Good, hit cinemas on Friday (21 November) to the delight of fans who rushed to the cinemas donning pink and green inspired by Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo's characters, Glinda and Elphaba.

The new movie follows on from the first film, which was released in November 2024, and sees Elphaba demonised by those in Oz and transformed into the Wicked Witch Of The West, as she is known in L Frank Baum’s novel, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.

While fans of the stage show and novel were eagerly waiting for a few specific scenes, others were completely surprised by what was to come.

One of the moments in question was when Elphaba (Erivo) and Fiyero (Jonathan Bailey), ahem, got it on while singing the absolute banger that is 'As Long as You're Mine'.

She whisks him away to her treehouse hideaway and she takes off her usual all black ensemble to swap into sexy lingerie with a... grey chunky knit cardigan?

The outfit choice quickly went viral, and everyone has been weighing in on the debate - we all love a cosy cardi, but whether it's the right vibes for one of the movie's only slightly spicy scenes has been up for questioning.

Not to mention that it's quite long, a little bit ratty, and is frayed at the seams, which, for some people, are important details.

One article by The Tab is titled: "What the hell is going on with Elphaba's sex cardigan in Wicked: For Good?," while The Cut chimed in on the conversation with: "What Is a Chunky Knit Doing in Wicked's Sexiest Scene?"

Yes - the sex cardigan has made national news.

The debate is also ongoing on social media, with one user joking on Twitter: "Elphaba was taking no chances when Fiyero got in that treehouse. Broke out the good lingerie and her sex cardigan."

While others penned: "Can’t stop thinking about Elphaba’s grey cardigan" and "Why does Elphaba have a sex cardigan?"

"Elphaba’s sex cardigan is so insanely distracting in wicked 2," added another.

Others love the unexpected choice, with one fan writing: "Is it just me or does the cardigan add to Elphaba’s sex appeal during that scene. Like we don’t get to see all of her that was only for Fiyero!!!"

"WHY IS NO ONE TALKING ABOUT ELPHABA IN THAT KNITTED CARDIGAN?! LIKE SHE IS THE EPITOME OF BEAUTY," dramatically penned another.

While others chimed in with: "Leave Elphaba's sex cardigan alone omg," and: "Those who are hating on Elphaba’s cardigan just don’t know the powers a truly comfy cardigan can hold over a girl."

Fans have now taken to making memes, sporting their own cardigans to watch the movie and are demanding they be sold as official merch.

One fan said: "Somebody is leaving money on the table by not selling Elphaba sex cardigans. I want one in every colour."

While another agreed: "Calling it Elphaba’s sex cardigan is wild and I love that for everyone involved. We need it mass produced in every size cause it’s really something."

Hear, hear!