Jon M. Chu Responds to Backlash Over Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo’s Friendship
Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo have faced mixed reactions from fans due to their sometimes unusual interactions at premieres and during the promotion of the both Wicked films.
Despite rumors and fan speculation, Ariana has made it clear that her bond with Cynthia is completely platonic. Earlier this year, she told The Hollywood Reporter,
“People think we’re secretly married.”
Fans have often dissected their public interactions, with some calling moments “cringe-worthy” or overanalyzed, like the viral clip of Erivo adjusting Grande’s necklace when it didn’t seem necessary.
Cynthia Erivo gets an uncontrollable urge to “fix” Ariana Grande’s necklace mid-interview. 👀 pic.twitter.com/brDaCSIV2d
— Rain The Plug (@Raintheplug1) November 16, 2025
Now, Jon M. Chu, director of Wicked, has spoken out about the friendship between the two stars. He defended them against online criticism and praised the authenticity of their connection. Chu said,
“For us to be at a time when you can have these two amazing women emerge from their shells to share love and friendship and the importance of that, unabashedly, no cynicism; to be able to share that vulnerability and wounds with the world, knowing people are going to come out with their knives, shame on people who put that down. These girls are giving us everything, it is why people around the world are drawn to it, it’s why they love it and they’re sharing a real friendship that happened on set that I got to be a part of and we should honor that with everything that we have.”
jon m. chu addresses the hate surrounding ariana and cynthia’s friendship:
— Ariana Grande Today (@ArianaToday) December 2, 2025
“for us to be at a time when you can have these two amazing women emerge from their shells to share love and friendship and the importance of that, unabashedly, no cynicism; to be able to share that… pic.twitter.com/NPJIzJWTwD
Chu previously spoke about their chemistry on set, calling it “one of the most beautiful friendships to watch grow.”
He added, “These two are the two biggest voices in the world, maybe in our lifetime. They could have hated each other. There could have been insane divaship, but they always put Wicked bigger than themselves, and I think that’s a great sign of a great artist that they could immerse themselves in Elphaba and Galinda and they could find themselves within these characters.”
Chu also highlighted how their friendship improved the film, saying, “And I think it only makes Elphaba and Galinda bigger than life, and we get to know them more intimately than ever. I think that’s why it feels culturally relevant because of what they’re bringing to these characters. It made my job a lot easier.”
By speaking out, Jon M. Chu is reminding fans that the relationship between Ariana and Cynthia is genuine and that their connection has enriched the story of Wicked for audiences around the world.
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