Cynthia Erivo Responds to Criticism of Her Friendship with Ariana Grande

Cynthia Erivo has spoken out against public criticism and "annoyance" surrounding her close friendship with "Wicked" co-star Ariana Grande. In a recent interview with The Guardian, Erivo reflected on the press tours for the upcoming two-part film adaptation of the musical and commented on the public's reaction to her bond with Grande.

"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."

Erivo addressed what she described as trolls who became overly invested in dissecting her relationship with Grande. The two actresses became friends in 2021 after being cast as Elphaba and Glinda, respectively, in the "Wicked" films, with the first installment set for release in 2024 and the sequel in 2025.

"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 recounted of the commentary.

Erivo described her companionship with Grande as a "double-edged sword," noting that if they had shown less emotion, "there would have been something else to say about it."

The actress also addressed a viral moment in November 2025 at an event at Universal Studios Singapore, where she stepped in to protect Grande after a man jumped over a barricade and approached her. Erivo clarified that her action was a natural response to protect a friend, not an indication of being a "bodyguard."

"No one else was moving. We were on a carpet. We were exposed. My immediate response was: ‘Get this man away from us now,’" Erivo explained. She expressed dismay that a journalist questioned her role, implying that her race might be a factor in the framing of the incident. "I must be a bodyguard," she said, recalling the interaction.

This speculation is not new. Erivo previously told The Stylist in February that some people found it hard to believe that two women could be close friends without being lovers. "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,” she said.

Erivo suggested this fascination stems from a lack of public discourse around deep, platonic female friendships, despite their prevalence. "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 … I think that this particular moment went just too far,” she added.

Grande herself has spoken positively about her friendship with Erivo, telling the "Podcrushed" podcast in June 2024, "There’s no one like her. And to just feel like we somehow speak the same language and somehow we’re destined to do this together, and to feel safe every single day together and hold space.”