If two friends hug, cry and hold hands, surely the explanation is that they are close. But when those friends happen to be Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, apparently even a simple display of affection can become an internet investigation.
Erivo has addressed the unusual fascination with her friendship with Grande, questioning why their bond became such a talking point during the promotional campaigns for Wicked and its sequel. The actress believes some observers were so busy analysing their interactions that they missed the rather obvious possibility that the two women genuinely enjoy each other's company.
Speaking to The Guardian in an interview published on 27 October, Erivo discussed the attention while promoting her upcoming courtroom drama, Prima Facie. She described online commentators as 'psychologists from their couches', taking issue with the way people scrutinised her relationship with Grande.
'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,' she said. 'Like, why are they friends? Why are they connected? There must be something wrong with them.'
When Being Affectionate Becomes a Crime
Erivo and Grande's closeness became a recurring topic during the press tours for the two-part musical adaptation. The pair, who played Elphaba and Glinda respectively, frequently appeared emotional, affectionate and visibly supportive of each other.
For some viewers, it was a charming glimpse into the relationship between two co-stars navigating an enormous production together. Others seemed determined to work out what every gesture supposedly meant. Erivo questioned why their emotional openness had become something to criticise.
'Why are they showing emotion? How dare they cry? And how dare they laugh? And how dare they be emotive and alive?' she asked.
The actress also pointed out the catch-22 of public scrutiny. Had the pair kept their distance and maintained perfectly neutral expressions throughout the promotional campaign, people might have complained about that instead.
'It's a double-edged sword,' Erivo explained, adding that she wished someone could tell them precisely how much emotion they were permitted to display.
The Singapore Incident Was About Protecting a Friend
The commentary surrounding their relationship took a more serious turn at the Singapore premiere of Wicked: For Good in November 2025. During the red-carpet event, a man later identified as Johnson Wen rushed towards Grande and grabbed her. Erivo immediately intervened, attempting to get him away from her co-star.
@karynxxi crazy fan started running at ariana grande on the yellow carpet 😭😭😭 #wickedforgood #arianagrande #fyp #fypsg ♬ original sound - karyn 🍒
The incident was frightening, and Erivo described her response as instinctive. Her immediate concern was to remove the stranger from the situation. Yet the footage generated another wave of discussion, with some people portraying Erivo as Grande's personal bodyguard. The actress has since challenged that characterisation, arguing that the reaction reflected misogyny and misogynoir, which specifically describes anti-Black misogyny.
Erivo questioned whether her appearance had influenced how people interpreted her actions, suggesting that her physique and bald head contributed to assumptions that protecting Grande was somehow her assigned role.
She explained that she had reacted as she would for any friend, adding that she hoped a friend would do the same for her. Her objection was not simply about an unflattering label. She felt that an instinctive human response had been distorted by assumptions about Black women.
There is a difference between discussing a public incident and deciding that someone must have an ulterior motive for helping another person. In this case, Erivo wanted the focus to remain on what happened rather than on stereotypes about how she looked.
Their Friendship Exists Beyond the Cameras
Despite the commentary, Erivo has continued to speak warmly about the relationship she developed with Grande while making Wicked. In a separate interview with Variety in May 2026, Erivo revealed that the pair still text almost every day. She also discussed how deliberately they had nurtured their friendship while navigating the demanding production and promotional schedules.
Their connection has also continued outside the films' promotional campaigns. In August 2026, the pair reunited onstage during Grande's London concert run, giving fans another glimpse of their enduring bond.
Erivo's comments also raise a familiar question about how women are expected to behave in public. Too much emotion can invite criticism, while too little can be interpreted as coldness. When two women are openly affectionate, their closeness can become a spectacle rather than simply a relationship between people who care about each other.
For Erivo, the answer does not require a complicated explanation. She and Grande became friends while working together, and they have maintained that friendship since.
Perhaps the internet could let them enjoy it without demanding a psychological assessment every time they hold hands. After all, friendship is hardly the strangest thing to happen in Hollywood. The real mystery is why it seems to surprise anyone.
