Cynthia Erivo calls out Ariana Grande friendship scrutiny: ‘Why are they friends?’
Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande (Getty Images)
Cynthia Erivo has criticised the public “annoyance” at her close friendship with Ariana Grande, saying people became “psychologists from their couches”.
Speaking to The Guardian while promoting her upcoming courtroom drama Prima Facie, Erivo said the reaction to their bond went beyond normal celebrity curiosity.
“It was interesting that there were many people who had become psychologists from their couches,” she said, reflecting on their time working on and promoting the Wicked films.
Erivo added: “There was this weird sort of, what’s the word I’m looking for … annoyance … at the fact that two women could actually be friends. Like, why are they friends? Why are they connected? There must be something wrong with them.”
Singapore red carpet incident
Erivo also revisited the Singapore red carpet moment, saying she and Grande felt exposed as it unfolded. Erivo was applauded for leaping to Grande’s defence after a fan rushed her at the Wicked: For Good premiere in Singapore, before holding her friend close afterwards.
“No one else was moving. We were on a carpet. We were exposed. My immediate response was: ‘Get this man away from us now,’” she said.
Erivo also said she felt uncomfortable with the internet positioning her as Grande’s “bodyguard”, and linked that framing to “misogyny and misogynoir”.
The supposed fan, who posted a photo with a surprised Grande afterwards, was sentenced to nine days in prison after being found guilty of being a public nuisance in November 2025.
Why did fans fixate on Erivo and Grande’s friendship?
Erivo said the scrutiny also came with a policing of how she and Grande behaved in public, particularly when they were emotional during interviews.
“Why are they showing emotion? How dare they cry? And how dare they laugh? And how dare they be emotive and alive?” she said, describing it as “a double-edged sword”.
Erivo, a British actor and singer, starred as Elphaba opposite Grande’s Glinda in the Wicked films.
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