Cynthia Erivo Addresses Speculation About Her Relationship With Ariana Grande

Cynthia Erivo has officially addressed the long-standing rumors regarding her relationship with her Wicked co-star, Ariana Grande. In a recent and candid interview, the 39-year-old actress clarified that while the pair share an incredibly deep bond, there is no romantic element to their connection.

Erivo expressed that her relationship with Grande is entirely platonic, describing them as close friends rather than lovers. Speculation about a potential romance began during the extensive press tour for their two-part film adaptation, Wicked: For Good.

Observers often noted the stars’ physical closeness, as they were frequently seen holding hands and sharing warm embraces during public appearances and interviews. These displays of affection led many fans to interpret their chemistry as something more than a standard friendship.

Erivo suggested that the public’s fascination with their bond stems from a lack of understanding regarding deep female friendships. Speaking with Stylist Magazine, she noted that people often struggle to comprehend how two women can be close—and not lovers.

She believes that because there is so little cultural conversation around meaningful, non-romantic female friendships, many observers assumed they were either putting on a show for the cameras or were secretly dating.

According to Erivo, this deep level of platonic connection can often make people feel uncomfortable. She argues that society isn’t always taught to value these types of relationships, even though they can be incredibly beneficial and transformative.

By speaking out, she hopes to shift the narrative and highlight that being profoundly connected to a friend is a “real and deep” experience that shouldn’t automatically be viewed through a romantic lens.

While the discussion surrounding their friendship continues to trend, both stars are currently navigating some of the biggest moments of their respective careers. Cynthia Erivo is currently back on the West End stage in London, where she is performing a groundbreaking one-person adaptation of Dracula at the Noël Coward Theatre.

In this production, the Tony and Grammy winner takes on every single role in the story, a feat that has already earned her significant critical acclaim during its 16-week limited run. Ariana Grande is equally busy as she prepares for her highly anticipated “Eternal Sunshine” world tour, which is set to kick off in Oakland this June.

This will be her first major tour in seven years, and it follows her own successful award season run for her portrayal of Glinda. In addition to her music, Ariana recently wrapped filming on the fourth Meet the Parents installment, titled Focker-in-Law, and is rumored to have a role in the upcoming season of American Horror Story.

Fans of the Wicked duo won’t have to wait long to see them together again on screen, as the final chapter of their Ozian journey remains a major streaming staple. Following its massive theatrical run, Wicked: For Good is scheduled to debut on Peacock on March 20, before eventually moving to Netflix later this summer.

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