Were Cynthia Erivo And Ariana Grande Faking Friendship? Actress Says ‘We Were Holding On By Threads’

Wicked: For Good’s promotions were dominated by the discussions about Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande’s close friendship, the actresses were not seen together after the film’s release. It immediately prompted fans to speculate whether the press tour was genuine or if they were simply faking friendship for promotion. But, now Cynthia has finally addressed the speculation. 

Cynthia Erivo finally opens up about Ariana Grande’s friendship rumours

Cynthia Erivo recently sat down for an interview with Variety and opened up about Wicked: For Good’s promotions and bond with her She admitted that towards the end of the promotional run, both she and Ariana were tired. The multi-year filming and promotion were consuming. The actress also explained that the intense schedule left them overwhelmed, and they were trying to support each other. In her words:

“We were holding on by threads. We were really trying to take care of each other.”

Cynthia also directly addressed the growing narrative about whether their friendship was authentic. She explained that, at some point, it became too hard to watch people make assumptions about their relationship based on viral clips and interviews. According to the Pinocchio actress, since many people do not know her personally, they do not understand how she behaves with her close friends. Sharing her views on it, she said:

“It’s very interesting, watching what people’s perception is versus what the reality actually is. Lots of psychologists sat at home deciding who we were, what we were going through, what we were doing, and why. I think that people didn’t really believe that we were actually friends. But that’s also because people don’t know me very well. If I’m a friend, then I’m a friend. If I’m not, then I’m not.”

At the same time, Cynthia revealed that, despite the end of the Wicked: For Good press tour, she and Ariana still talk and text daily. In turn, several fans praised her honesty about the emotional exhaustion that came with the intense filming and promotions. 

Cynthia Erivo recalls chilling Ariana Grande security incident 

Apart from friendship rumors, Cynthia Erivo also opened up about a frightening incident involving Ariana. It was in Singapore during the premiere of Wicked: For Good when a man allegedly crossed security barriers and grabbed Ariana. Cynthia explained that when no one immediately reacted, she instinctively stepped in to protect Ariana. She recalled pushing that person away before he refused to let Ariana go. 

However, when the footage of the incident went viral, she explained that the debate unfortunately took a turn. Instead, fans began making fun of her appearance and role during the incident. In fact, Cynthia argued that many reactions reflected deeper racial stereotypes about Black women. People immediately called her “protector” or “bodyguard” because she looked physically bigger than Ariana. However, she questioned whether the reaction would have been the same if the roles were reversed. 

Why did fans question Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande’s friendship? 

Speculation about Cynthia Enrivo and Ariana Grande’s friendship grew during their long promotional cycles for Wicked. Fans noticed how both actresses began talking about their experiences together in the movie. In fact, some viewers felt their close bond was unusually intense, while others called them out for exaggerating their friendship for marketing purposes. Videos of them crying, holding hands, and emotionally supporting each other were mocked. 

What do you think about Cynthia’s revelations about her bond with Ariana Grande?

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Pic credits: Cynthia Erivo/ Instagram, Ariana Grande/ Instagram