Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo sparked reactions with a resurfaced red carpet clip where Erivo repeatedly adjusted Grande’s diamond necklace, leaving fans baffled and calling the interaction “weird”. The video, taken during the promotional tour of Wicked: For Good, shows Erivo, 38, stopping an interview to meticulously twist the necklace as Grande, 32, calmly remarks (per Daily Mail):
Something is bothering her, she’s going to fix something. I know her.
“I’m so sorry,” Erivo apologizes, insisting something is “not right,” while Grande adds, “She’s getting the fixing itch that Cynthia Erivo gets.” Fans were quick to debate online: one Reddit user wrote, “Girl okay there was nothing wrong with her necklace to be doing all that,” while another noted, “She literally turned it the wrong way and back to where it was just so she could be more involved in the interview.”
Recently, Erivo clarified the viral “holding space” interview, calling it “an innocent moment of confusion and human reaction,” adding that fans asking to hold her finger publicly is something she “hates”. Meanwhile, Grande faced a frightening incident at the Singapore premiere when a man ambushed her, and Erivo intervened before security could reach her.
Ariana Grande Responded to Rumors of Being Secretly Married to Cynthia Erivo
Despite fan speculation, Ariana Grande has made it clear that her relationship with Cynthia Erivo is strictly platonic. Earlier this year, she told The Hollywood Reporter:
People think we’re secretly married.
She admitted discovering risqué fan-made content about their characters, Elphaba and Glinda, saying:
I wish I could unsee some things… wow, I had a feeling, but I didn’t know it would be on this scale or this graphic.
Grande emphasized that her focus is on friendship and professional admiration. Speaking on Penn Badgley’s podcast Podcrushed last June, she explained:
To work with someone who is just absolutely in their own league as a talent in the world—there’s no one like her… to feel safe every single day together and hold space.
She added:
We both have similar but different processes, similar but different needs, we’re both opposite and the same… to have that—the love that we have and trust that we have and deep love that we have for each other is… I think it all kind of happened the way it did because of that and because we were supposed to be in each other’s lives, I really do.
Costar Marissa Bode, who plays Elphaba’s little sister, also praised their connection (per E! News):
They have such a strong bond that I admire so much… it’s really special.
Erivo and Grande are expected to spend even more time together as award season approaches.
Cynthia Erivo Revealed the ‘Deep Connection’ She Shared with Ariana Grande
Cynthia Erivo has been equally candid about the special bond she shares with Ariana Grande. In last year’s chat with ELLE UK, Erivo said:
We cultivated a friendship, outside of all of this, that allows us to have these real, deep connective conversations that join us as friends and sisters.
Erivo, a Capricorn who keeps her inner circle small, added:
I have people, but I’m a Capricorn, so I have few people. I’m very selective about who the closest ones are. I think that makes for good relationships, with people who know more than I do.
Well, fans continue to analyze their chemistry, though Erivo has emphasized that their connection is deeply rooted in friendship, mutual respect, and creative collaboration. Could this bond redefine celebrity friendships in Hollywood? Or will fans continue spinning fanfiction out of genuine camaraderie? Drop your thoughts below?
Wicked: For Good hits cinemas on November 21. For latest scoops on Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, and all things Wicked, follow FandomWire.
