Cynthia Erivo Says Friendship Criticism 'Felt Crazy'

Cynthia Erivo is addressing the public scrutiny that followed her friendship with Wicked costar Ariana Grande, saying she found the reaction both puzzling and revealing. In a recent interview with The Guardian, the Tony winner reflected on the intense press tours for the two-part film series and the commentary that surrounded her bond with Grande.

Erivo, 39, told The Guardian that many observers seemed to appoint themselves armchair psychologists, describing what she characterized as a strange annoyance at the idea that two women could genuinely be friends. She said some critics appeared to question the authenticity of the connection she formed with Grande, 33, during filming.

The actress, who portrayed Elphaba opposite Grande's Glinda in 2024's Wicked and its 2025 sequel, Wicked: For Good, suggested the pair could not win either way. She told The Guardian that if they had shown no emotion, there would have been something else to say about it, and she wished someone could have supplied a proper balance of emotion to display.

Erivo also recalled one moment that went too far: being referred to as Grande's bodyguard after a scary fan interaction at a red carpet in Singapore. She told The Guardian that no one else was moving, that they were on a carpet and exposed, and that her immediate response was to get the man away from them. She said the commentary disrespected her humanity, and she found it crazy that it was considered acceptable to rip a person to shreds for doing something naturally human.

The scrutiny has followed the pair throughout their Wicked journey. Earlier this year, Erivo shut down speculation that the two might have been more than friends, telling The Stylist in February that people did not initially understand how two women could be close friends and not lovers. She said there was a strange fascination with the two of them, with people either thinking they were putting it on for the cameras or that they were lovers.

Erivo added that the reaction stems from how little conversation exists around deep, real platonic female friendship, even though it exists everywhere. She noted that people are not used to seeing it on camera and in front of people, and that a relationship where people are connected sometimes simply makes people uncomfortable.

The remarks offer a window into the pressure that can accompany highly visible friendships in the entertainment industry, particularly when two women share a close bond in the public eye. For local readers, the story raises questions about how platonic relationships between women are perceived and discussed in everyday settings, from workplaces to community groups.