Cynthia Erivo responds to criticism of her friendship with Ariana Grande: ‘There were many people who had become psychologists from their couches’
‘A double-edged sword.’
Cynthia Erivo is finally opening up about the reaction fans had toward her friendship with Ariana Grande during the massive press tour for Wicked. Erivo sat down for an interview with The Guardian on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, to discuss her new film Prima Facie. She did not hold back when asked about how people viewed the bond she shares with Grande.
The star noted that people online seemed to have a lot of opinions about how she and Grande interacted. She pointed out that many observers acted like experts on their personal lives. “It was interesting that there were many people who had become psychologists from their couches,” Erivo said.
According to Variety, she noted that there was a weird sense of annoyance regarding the fact that two women could actually be friends. People were questioning why they were connected at all, often assuming something had to be wrong with them.
The press tours for Wicked were full of moments that went viral
Fans saw the pair hugging, crying, and holding onto each other’s fingers. These displays of affection were not received well by everyone. Erivo questioned the negative feedback directly. “Why are they showing emotion? How dare they cry? And how dare they laugh? And how dare they be emotive and alive?” Erivo asked.
Erivo described the whole situation as a double-edged sword. She explained that if they had acted cold or distant, the public would have likely criticized them for that as well. “Because if we were dead behind the eyes and showing no emotion, there would have been something else to say about it,” Erivo said. She even joked that she wished someone could have provided a manual on the exact amount of emotion they were permitted to show.
The bond between Erivo and Grande was a central part of the story they were telling on screen. In Wicked and Wicked: For Good, which were released in 2024 and 2025, they played Elphaba and Glinda. These characters were college roommates at Shiz University who grew into their true selves through their connection. Their work on the project was highly successful, leading to record-breaking numbers and Oscar nominations for both performers.
Director Jon M. Chu previously shared his thoughts on their relationship with the media. He noted that it was one of the most beautiful friendships to watch grow. Chu explained that these two are among the biggest voices in the world. He added that there could have been intense rivalry or divaship, but they chose to put the project above themselves. He viewed their ability to immerse themselves in their roles while maintaining a bond as a sign of great artistry.
One specific moment from the tour became a huge talking point online
On November 13, 2025, a man approached Grande on a red carpet in Singapore and put his arm around her. PEOPLE reports that Erivo acted fast to shield her friend. She described the event as terrifying. “No one else was moving. We were on a carpet,” she said. “We were exposed. My immediate response was: ‘Get this man away from us now.’”
The internet quickly labeled Erivo as a bodyguard, a title she finds problematic. She believes this framing was rooted in misogyny and misogynoir. She felt that people were making assumptions based on her appearance rather than recognizing a basic human reaction to a friend in need.
“I was like: ‘Oh, you think because I look like this that you could talk to me this way about something that was a human thing that I would have done for any friend, and hopefully a friend would have done for me,’” she said. “But I must be a bodyguard.”
Despite the noise, the two have stayed very close since the films premiered. They even went as far as getting matching tattoos on their palms that say ‘For Good’ in November 2025.
Erivo’s latest legal drama Prima Facie premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in September. While it does not have a U.S. release date yet, it represents the next chapter in her career.
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