What kind of relationship exists between Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo? This is one of the questions that has been asked the most these days on social networks. A debate that began last year on the occasion of the promotion of Eviland which has now returned with force during the world tour of Wicked: Part IIa film that will be released in theaters this Friday, November 21st. One of the first cities of the promotion was Singapore, where Grande experienced an unpleasant moment when a prankster—who was sentenced to nine days in prison—pounced on her on the red carpet. It was then that Erivo quickly intervened in his defense to separate the boy who had escaped security, resulting in the artist’s fright.
In addition to Singapore, the cast has traveled to London and New York in recent weeks: in Sao Paulo, Erivo was without Grande due to a problem with a plane that forced him to cancel his visit to the Brazilian city. In the three cities where they both coincided, Erivo was close, protective and attentive to every step of the singer. we can’t be friends. Many social network users consider these gestures as confirmation of their close friendship; For others, it is an overly protective and obsessive relationship. While all these theories and speculations accompanied by videos and images accumulate millions of interactions, Ariana Grande took advantage of one of her promotional interviews to Wicked: Part II to explain why they make so many displays of affection in public.
This Tuesday 18 November the interview with the artist was broadcast on podcasts Happy Appendix by Amy Poehler, in which the comedian and host asks her directly why she and her co-star like to “touch” each other in public. “I channel a lot of energy through my hands,” Grande responds. He also points out that he is always “holding a hand, shaking something or reaching for something” with everyone around him. That is to say, it is not an attitude exclusive to when he is with the actress he plays Elfaba.
The singer also assures that they both “worked hard to maintain” the close bond they developed during the filming of the two films. Evil. “There’s a lot of time between filming and the press tour. We’re both very busy, but we try our best to stay connected that way and take care of each other so we can honor the project as much as humanly possible,” he adds.
One of the first gestures they made was in 2024, when during a promotional interview Grande grabbed Erivo’s finger for protection. “I didn’t even realize it was something that characterized me until it happened,” he explains in podcasts on the viral moment he made in a show of support: “I could use something.”
Another of the videos that has gone viral in recent days, even if it is a scene that took place at the premiere of the first part Evil, It’s the one where both actresses answer a reporter’s questions on the red carpet. While the singer responds, Erivo begins to replace her necklace, which was positioned correctly from the beginning, which distracts the pop star, although she continues with her speech without losing sight of what her partner is doing. “Something is bothering her. She will fix something. I know her”, were the words he used to justify the gesture.
Social media users are digging up these types of videos to fuel theories that something is going on between them. Another one that went viral and corresponds to a conversation with Variety from last February, shows how one of those present grabs Ariana Grande’s arm and starts shaking it with a certain aggression. His friend doesn’t take long to react and grabs him by the same arm to stop the action. His face confirms the discomfort he felt at that moment and that Erivo helped him make it all stop.
But let’s go back to the present and the last days of promotion in the United States. During the Before held in New York, both were more protective than usual of their co-star. Representatives of the artists reported last Monday of a health problem that Erivo was experiencing: “Cynthia is not feeling well and has lost her voice, so neither she nor Ariana will be giving interviews tonight.” As reported VarietyGrande has decided not to give interviews as a sign of solidarity with her partner and friend. While they didn’t speak to the media, they posed together on the red carpet. Where, once again, they posed holding hands.
