Cynthia Erivo is addressing the backlash surrounding her close friendship with Ariana Grande, questioning why their emotional connection became such a talking point during the promotional tours for Wicked and Wicked: For Good.
In an interview with The Guardian, Erivo reflected on the online scrutiny she and Grande faced as their affectionate interactions repeatedly went viral.
“It was interesting that there were many people who had become psychologists from their couches,” Erivo said. “There was this weird sort of, what’s the word I’m looking for … annoyance … at the fact that two women could actually be friends.”
The actress suggested that some people questioned the authenticity of their bond, interpreting their emotional moments as something that needed an explanation.
“Like, ‘Why are they friends? Why are they connected? There must be something wrong with them. Why are they showing emotion? How dare they cry? And how dare they laugh? And how dare they be emotive and alive?’” she said.
As Variety reported, Erivo described the public reaction as a “double-edged sword,” explaining that the pair might have faced criticism even if they had shown less emotion.
“Because if we were dead behind the eyes and showing no emotion, there would have been something else to say about it,” she added.
Erivo also revisited an incident at the Wicked: For Good premiere in Singapore in November 2025, when a man rushed toward Grande and grabbed her on the red carpet.
Erivo immediately intervened to protect her co-star, but the public’s subsequent characterization of her as Grande’s “bodyguard” did not sit well with her.
Speaking to The Guardian, Erivo recalled her immediate reaction: “Get this man away from us now.”
She also questioned why an ordinary act of protecting a friend had been turned into a source of ridicule.
“I think the idea that it’s OK to rip a person to shreds in that way when they’re doing something that’s a naturally human thing to do just felt crazy,” she said.
Erivo had previously discussed how people struggled to understand the depth of their platonic friendship.
Erivo and Grande starred as Elphaba and Glinda in the 2024 film Wicked and its 2025 sequel, Wicked: For Good. Their friendship became a recurring topic throughout both films’ promotional campaigns, with the actresses frequently expressing affection for one another in interviews.
Despite the criticism, the pair have continued to celebrate their connection, even getting matching “For Good” tattoos in November 2025.
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