Cynthia Erivo is getting candid about the public’s perception of her relationship with Ariana Grande.
Erivo and Grande captured attention after starring as besties in “Wicked.” Beyond their on-screen chemistry, fans became fixated on how close the pair appeared during interviews, often leaning on each other and holding hands at press events.
Their interactions quickly fueled online speculation, and while Erivo has addressed the chatter before, she is now speaking more directly about how she was judged because of her appearance.
In a recent interview, Erivo opened up about the scrutiny surrounding her close bond with Ariana Grande and the way public perception has shaped commentary on her appearance.
Erivo recalled the reaction after she stepped in to protect Grande when a stranger tried to grab her during the Singapore premiere of “Wicked.”
Several memes and TikTok videos depicted her as Grande’s “bodyguard” following the incident. Speaking about the situation, Erivo told Variety, “I think that we haven’t really come to terms with the insidious nature of how we view Black women.”
She acknowledged that some people may disagree with her perspective, but maintained that the criticism clearly centered on her looks as a woman of color.
“Because that’s what was being made fun of. It was my physique; it was my shape; it was the fact that I was bald; it was about what I looked like,” the London- born star explained.
According to the “Harriet” star, many immediately painted her as the protective one because of those stereotypes. The “Widows” star also reflected on the assumptions people made about her friendship with Grande, calling out those who believed they could define the pair’s relationship from the outside.
The actress noted that many people seemed unwilling to accept that their connection was genuine. “I think that people didn’t really believe that we were actually friends,” Erivo shared, adding that the two still speak nearly every day.
Cynthia Erivo Previously Denied Romance Rumors With Ariana Grande
This is not the first time Erivo has clarified the nature of her connection with Grande. Earlier this year, she shut down rumors suggesting their friendship was romantic.
As The Blast reported, Erivo explained that many people struggled to believe two women could be very close without being romantically involved and that they were probably faking it.
Erivo pointed out that the confusion likely came from how deep female friendships are rarely shown or discussed in public spaces. She noted that while such connections are common in real life, they don’t often get attention on screen or in mainstream conversations.
As the actresses promoted the hit musical adaptation, their affectionate interactions became a major talking point online. Some critics even speculated that their behavior may have hurt their Oscar chances, as neither got any nominations.
According to The Blast, one anonymous Academy voter claimed that the outcome wasn’t surprising. They explained that while the two actresses had strong chemistry, the film itself wasn’t impressive and kept them apart for most of the story. The voter added that what put him off more was their “promotional performances.”
“They creeped a lot of people out, and in their rush to feel authentic, came off as cosplaying,” the individual shared.
Cynthia Erivo Confronted A Fan For Breaking A Theater Rule
Outside of the headlines surrounding Grande, Erivo recently drew attention after pausing her West End production of “Dracula” to confront an audience member who was allegedly filming the performance.
According to The Blast, a TikTok user recounted that the 39-year-old stage star stopped the show for several minutes after spotting someone recording inside the theater.
Another attendee confirmed that Erivo directly addressed the individual from the stage before staff escorted them out for violating the no-filming policy.
Ariana Grande Has A New Album On The Way
While Erivo continues making headlines, Grande has also generated buzz after announcing a brand-new album.
As The Blast reported, the “Thank U, Next” singer recently unveiled the cover art for her upcoming record on Instagram, showing herself smiling as loose brown hair framed her face.
Grande revealed the project, titled “Petal,” is scheduled for release on July 31, 2026. Alongside co-writing the project, she also served as executive producer, working with producer Ilya, known for collaborations with artists like Taylor Swift and Sam Smith.