Critics and fans alike were all over Wicked when it hit theaters in 2024, but it’s no secret that Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande’s press tour rubbed a few folks the wrong way. Some speculate this could be why, despite sky-high expectations for its follow-up, Wicked: For Good, it underperformed at the box office. One Oscar voter even confirmed the two’s interview behavior turned off many voters. However, one of the stranger rumors bandied about was that the two stars were lovers, and someone finally asked Erivo about it.
During a recent wide-ranging interview with Stylist, Erivo addressed the wave of speculation that followed her and Grande throughout the two-part adaptation’s rollout. Reflecting on the fascination with their closeness, she suggested the reaction had less to do with them and more to do with how audiences interpret intimacy between women. In her words:
