David Corenswet’s clumsy remarks on Joanthan Bailey’s Wicked: For Good kiss scene spark debate
David Corenswet has sparked debate online. (Variety/CNN)
David Corenswet has sparked debate online. (Variety/CNN)
David Corenswet has evoked some frustration online over comments he’s made about Jonathan Bailey‘s levitating kiss scene in Wicked: For Good.
The Wicked and Superman actors were paired up for Variety and CNN’s latest Actors on Actors series.
The pairing caused much excitement when it was announced and since the episode debuted on Monday (8 December) with a lot of people picking up on a moment at the end when the pair joked about kissing one another.
But another moment has also gained attention. It sees Bailey and Corenswet, both boyfriends of the internet, discuss that both Wicked: For Good and Superman feature kisses had whilst two characters levitate.
In Wicked: For Good that happens during “As Long As You’re Mine” when Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) levitates herself and Fiyero (Bailey) before the pair make love. In Superman it happens between Superman (Corenswet) and Lois Lane (Rachel Brosnahan).
“You have the bigger challenge,” Corenswet starts. “You are carried by Cynthia. She’s levitating you. Every man out there would think there’s no way you can look masculine and powerful and in control when you’re being levitated by a woman,” he then said.
Bailey said it was his “greatest privilege” before Corenswet complimented Bailey’s “f****** massive arms”, and said: “You somehow maintained your masculinity.”
After nerding out over “As Long As You’re Mine” with Bailey the Superman actor said: “Well done, mate, ’cause it’s a lot easier when you get to carry the girl, and when you’re being carried, not easy.”
At this point Bailey looks a little unsure how to respond before saying sharing that moment with Erivo was a “total honour”. He added: “I’ll be carried by both Cynthia and Ari for the rest of my life.”
The moment has been hotly debated on social media with people arguing about what Corenswet meant.
One person wrote on X/Twitter that: “The concept of spewing a 1950s perspective on masculinity at a gay man who was in an adaptation of a musical based on a book which was also written by a gay man.”
the concept of spewing a 1950s perspective on masculinity at a gay man who was in an adaptation of a musical based on a book which was also written by a gay man https://t.co/tqvO8qNvE6
— charlie (@gonegirlfriend) December 7, 2025
Others pointed out Bailey’s uneasy expression with another saying the Wicked actor “is doing his best to salvage it” by describing being lifted by Erivo as an “honour”.
Another X/Twitter user said the comment was an “odd thing to say”.
Some came to Corenswet’s defence. One person said the actor was “making a jab against traditional gender dynamics”, not stating his own personal opinion.
Another viewer suggested Corenswet was “commending Jonathan for navigating a dynamic that is projected onto them both – & Jonathan knows *exactly* what he’s talking about”.
Similarly, someone else thought Corenswet’s wording was “odd but not ill intentioned”.
Your lack of literacy hurts. He’s making a jab against traditional gender dynamics and that you can be masculine while being picked up and not in the dominant role and praising Jonathan for it. He just wanted to soapbox not expressing his own opinion of masculinity.
— Red_Tide (@Na_uzu_) December 7, 2025
Watch the full interview below:
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