Cynthia Erivo Addresses Rumors About Her Friendship With Ariana Grande

The actresses open up about the public's strange fascination with their close bond.

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Actress Cynthia Erivo has spoken out about the misconceptions surrounding her close friendship with Ariana Grande, which formed on the set of the Wicked films. Erivo says the public has had a "strange fascination" with their relationship, often assuming it was romantic rather than a deep platonic bond. She believes this is because female friendships are underrepresented in the media. Erivo and Grande have also discussed the vulnerability required for their emotional performances in the Wicked movies.

Why it matters

Erivo's comments shed light on the public's tendency to sexualize or romanticize close female friendships, which are often misunderstood or underappreciated. Her openness about her relationship with Grande challenges these harmful assumptions and highlights the importance of representing authentic, platonic connections between women.

The details

Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande formed a close friendship while working together on the Wicked films. However, their bond has been the subject of rumors and speculation, with some assuming their relationship was romantic rather than platonic. Erivo addressed this in an interview, saying "At first, I think people didn't understand how it was possible for two women to be friends - close - and not lovers." She believes this is because female friendships are underrepresented in the media, and "a relationship where people are connected sometimes just makes people uncomfortable." Erivo and Grande have also discussed the vulnerability required for their emotional performances in the Wicked movies, with Erivo saying she was "really proud" of her solo performance of "No Good Deed."

  • Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande co-starred in the Wicked films, which were released in 2024 and 2025.

The players

Cynthia Erivo

An actress known for her roles in the Wicked films, as well as other projects like Harriet and The Outsider.

Ariana Grande

A popular singer and actress who co-starred with Erivo in the Wicked films.

Jonathan Bailey

The actor who played Fiyero, the love interest of Erivo's character Elphaba, in the Wicked films.

Jeff Goldblum

The actor who portrayed the Wizard in the Wicked films.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“At first, I think people didn't understand how it was possible for two women to be friends - close - and not lovers.”

— Cynthia Erivo, Actress (Stylist)

“I think it's because there's such little conversation around platonic female friendship that is deep and real, even though it exists everywhere.”

— Cynthia Erivo, Actress (Stylist)

“A relationship where people are connected sometimes just makes people uncomfortable; we aren't taught that those relationships are good for us.”

— Cynthia Erivo, Actress (Stylist)

“I was really proud of being able to do something that was that big, that grand, and still be able to hone into the feeling, the moment.”

— Cynthia Erivo, Actress (EW)

What’s next

The Wicked films are available to stream on Peacock and other platforms.

The takeaway

Erivo's openness about her friendship with Grande challenges harmful assumptions about close female relationships, highlighting the need for more authentic representation of platonic bonds between women in media.