Topics: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Wicked, Celebrity, Entertainment, Sex and Relationships
Cynthia Erivo has finally spoken out on those Ariana Grande relationship rumours.
Fans of the British actress, 39, and her co-star, 32, will know that the duo have a very close friendship and were barely seen apart during the press tours for both Wicked and Wicked: For Good.
Whether it was holding hands on the red carpet or comforting each other during emotional interviews, the strong bond the pair have formed didn't go unnoticed.
Not to mention when Erivo jumped in to help Grande after a fan lunged at her on the red carpet during the Wicked: For Good Asia-Pacific premiere in Singapore last November.
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However, their closeness also prompted a bizarre slew of online rumours that Erivo and Grande are actually in a secret relationship, despite both having partners of their own.
For context, Erivo has been romantically linked to Lena Waithe since 2018, but they have not publicly confirmed their romance.
Meanwhile, Grande has been with Boq actor Ethan Slater since roughly July 2023, so, as you can imagine, it's probably not nice for them or their partners that this rumour is being pushed.
Erivo spoke out on the conspiracy for the first time last week in a cover star interview with Stylist Magazine.
She explained: "At first, I think people didn’t understand how it was possible for two women to be friends - close - and not lovers.
"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."
The actress continued: "And I think it’s because there’s such little conversation around platonic female friendship that is deep and real, even though it exists everywhere.
“We’re not 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."
Hear, hear - maybe the rumour mill will finally give this one a rest now.
Last February, Grande also touched on the strange theory during an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, explaining where she thinks the rumour stemmed from.
She told the publication that at this point, 'people think we’re secretly married,' adding that 'the Gelphie stuff' is likely behind it.
If you're unfamiliar, 'Gelphie' is the ship name for the duo's Wicked characters, leading ladies Glinda and Elphaba.
Because fans are so obsessed with the enemies-to-friends storyline and are convinced the two fictional characters should be in a sapphic relationship, the lines seem to have blurred.
Speaking of all of the 'Gelphie' fan fiction, art, and social media posts, Grande added: "I wish I could unsee some things. I mean, wow, I had a feeling, but I didn’t know it would be on this scale or this graphic."
Meanwhile, in a separate interview on Amy Poehler's Good Hang podcast in November, speaking about that viral 'holding space' moment, the actress added: "I channel a lot of energy through my hands.
"And so I’m always holding a hand. I’m always, like, squeezing a something, as you’ve learned. I’m always reaching for something sometimes."
Grande admitted: "Yeah, I like to channel support and energy....I didn’t even notice that it was a thing about me until that thing happened."
