- Cynthia Erivo opened up about the rumors that she’s in a secret relationship with Ariana Grande.
- The rumors largely stemmed from her and Ariana’s closeness throughout the Wicked: For Good press tour.
- Cynthia says that society doesn’t allow women to have intense platonic relationships with one another.
For better or for worse, the years-long press tour for Wicked spawned several memes, unforgettable pop culture moments and memories that will last a lifetime. But something changed with the arrival of the second movie, Wicked: For Good—fans started questioning Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande's relationship, calling them codependent and wondering if they were more than just friends. With the dust finally settled, Cynthia addressed the rumors of her and Ariana being secret lovers and explained the depths of their relationship.
Speaking with Stylist Magazine, Cynthia confirmed that her and Ariana's relationship is entirely platonic.
“At first, I think people didn't understand how it was possible for two women to be friends—close—and not lovers,” she told the magazine. “I've never really spoken about this but there was this strange fascination with the two of us, where people either thought we were putting it on for the cameras or that we were lovers. And I think it’s because there’s such little conversation around platonic female friendship that is deep and real.”
Cynthia added, “We're no used to seeing it on camera in front of people. A relationship where people are connected sometimes just makes people uncomfortable; we aren't taught that those relationships are good for us.”
Reminder: Cynthia and Ariana have relationships of their own. Ariana has been dating Ethan Slater, her and Cynthia’s Wicked co-star, since 2023 after they both separated from their respective spouses (which is a WHOLE drama of its own). Cynthia has been romantically linked to Lena Waithe since 2018, but the they have not publicly confirmed their relationship.
So, let’s move on, shall we?
