Cynthia Erivo Finally Speaks Out on Those Ariana Grande Dating Rumors
Cynthia Erivo has spoken publicly about the constant speculation surrounding her friendship with Ariana Grande. In a recent interview with Stylist, she addressed the rumors that began after they worked together on Wicked: For Good.
Erivo said the reaction from fans surprised her. “At first, I think people didn’t understand how it was possible for two women to be friends — close — and not lovers.” She explained that many people assumed their bond was either staged for publicity or romantic. “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.”
According to the actress, deep friendships between women are rarely shown in public spaces or media. “I think it’s because there’s such little conversation around platonic female friendship that is deep and real, even though it exists everywhere.” She added that strong emotional connections often make people uneasy. “A relationship where people are connected sometimes just makes people uncomfortable; we aren’t taught that those relationships are good for us.”
Erivo also talked about working with Grande during an earlier appearance on The Awardist. She described how their working styles are different but helpful. “I like quiet and solitude in order to focus in, and she would need contact or just a moment of connectivity before we could begin. I think knowing that, having no prep time, meant that we could be influenced by the elements in the best possible way.”
The actress has had a very busy year. She released the book Simply More: A Book for Anyone Who Has Been Told They’re Too Much and her album I Forgive You. She also hosted the Tony Awards, performed in Jesus Christ Superstar at the Hollywood Bowl, and earned an Emmy nomination for her role in Poker Face.
Right now she is performing in Dracula in London’s West End, where she plays 23 characters in one show. She described the challenge clearly. “It takes you to a lot of different places mentally, because you have to find out who each of the characters are.” She added that the work feels musical in a way.
“It ends up feeling like you’re creating a bit of an orchestra; everyone has their own melody and rhythm. I’m going back to the root of what I do – finding characters and figuring out how to bring them to life. It’s not easy, because there are a lot of them, but I’m enjoying it.”
This situation shows how fast people jump to conclusions when they see close friendships in the spotlight. It also highlights how rare it still feels to see strong platonic bonds between women discussed openly. What do you think about the rumors and her response? Share your thoughts in the comments.