Ah, the smell of outrage in the air! The highly anticipated Wicked movie adaptation is finally here, bringing stunning performances, breathtaking visuals, and… of course, an army of critics who seem to think it’s the apocalypse in cinematic form. The religious right and their MAGA allies are up in arms once again, not over plot holes or pacing, but because Elphaba is played by a Black actress (Cynthia Erivo) and the film boasts a diverse, multiracial cast, helmed by Asian-American director Jon M. Chu. Let’s just cut to the chase: their outrage isn’t about witches or moral corruption. It’s about the horrifying idea (to them) that representation matters. What They’re Saying From conservative pundits to social media soapboxes, the criticisms sound laughably familiar:“It’s godless supernaturalism!” (Translation: We don’t like it when witches aren’t...