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Cynthia Erivo is fully aware of the speculation surrounding her very close friendship with Wicked co-star Ariana Grande, and now she’s finally speaking out about it.
The two were inseparable during both press tours for Wicked and its sequel Wicked: For Good and were seen clasping hands and posing cheek-to-cheek, leading some to wonder if they were a couple.
Erivo explained it away as ‘strange fascination’ in a new interview with Stylist.
‘At first, I think people didn’t understand how it was possible for two women to be friends – close – and not lovers,’ the London-born star told the outlet.
‘I’ve never really spoken about this, but there was this strange fascination with the two of us, where people either thought we were putting it on for the cameras or that we were lovers.’
Erivo, who was accused of ‘using teleprompters’ to help with her lines in West End’s adaptation of Dracula, conceded that their relationship may have been confusing to some people because emotional attachment among women is overlooked as a topic of discussion.
Cynthia Erivo (pictured February 1 in London) is fully aware of the speculation surrounding her close friendship with Wicked co-star Ariana Grande, and now she’s speaking out about it
The two actresses (pictured in November 2025 at the Wicked: For Good premiere in New York) were inseparable and touchy-feely during both press tours for Wicked and its sequel
‘I think it’s because there’s such little conversation around platonic female friendship that is deep and real, even though it exists everywhere. We’re not used to seeing it on camera, in front of people,’ Erivo said.
She emphasized her point by adding: ‘A relationship where people are connected sometimes just makes people uncomfortable; we aren’t taught that those relationships are good for us.’
Grande, 32, admitted she needs to hold her co-star and friend’s hand during events.
‘I do, I do. I channel a lot of energy through my hands. And so I’m always holding a hand,’ the actress said during a chat on the podcast Good Hang with Amy Poehler.
‘I’m always, like, squeezing a something, as you’ve learned. I’m always reaching for something sometimes.’
She added that she often clutches ‘who I’m with. Yeah, I like to channel support and energy… I didn’t even notice that it was a thing about me until that thing happened.’
During the Wicked press tour in late 2024, Grande was seen holding on to Erivo’s finger, a gesture that soon went viral.
‘Yeah, because I didn’t know what the f*** was going on,’ Grande admitted.
‘I just wanted to be supportive. I was like, oh my God. And it felt sweet. It felt beautiful. And it was beautiful,’ the Break Free hitmaker added.
Erivo and Grande’s public displays of affection caused many to wonder if they were a couple
Grande certainly admires the London-born star and the feeling seems to be mutual (pictured in November 2025 at a Wicked: For Good Q&A in North Hollywood, California)
They were each other’s support throughout the filming of both Wicked and its sequel Wicked: For Good (pictured on set with their director Jon M. Chu)
Erivo’s portrayed Elphaba in the two movies while Grande dazzled as Glinda
Erivo rushed to Grande’s rescue when a crazed fan lunged at the younger star during the Wicked: For Good Asia-Pacific premiere in Singapore last November, further cementing their close bond.
Grande appeared visibly shaken and disturbed by the incident.
The fan, later identified as 26-year-old Australian Johnson Wen who goes by the nickname Pyjama Man online, was quickly apprehended by security.
Wen was arrested and charged with public nuisance and sentenced to nine days in jail, after which he was barred from re-entering Singapore again.
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