Cynthia Erivo Addresses Rumors of Romance with Ariana Grande

Cynthia Erivo has addressed longstanding rumors that her close friendship with Ariana Grande during the promotion of the Wicked films suggested a romantic relationship, attributing the speculation to a broader societal discomfort with deep platonic bonds between women.

In an interview published Tuesday in the U.K. outlet Stylist, the 39-year-old actress reflected on the attention surrounding their interactions during the press tours for the two-part adaptation of the Broadway musical. Erivo and Grande, 32, portrayed Elphaba and Glinda, respectively, in the films, with the first installment released in 2024 and the sequel, Wicked: For Good, following later. Their on-camera moments, including handholding and emotional exchanges, went viral and sparked widespread discussion. "At first, I think people didn't understand how it was possible for two women to be friends close and not lovers," Erivo said. "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 suggested the reaction stems from a lack of visibility for such relationships in media. "I...