Cynthia Erivo pushed back this week against persistent rumors that she and co-star Ariana Grande are romantically involved. Speaking to Stylist during the Wicked: For Good press tour, Erivo called the speculation a misreading of a close, nonromantic friendship — and a symptom of how media and audiences often interpret visible closeness between high-profile women.
What happened
During promotional appearances and interviews for the Wicked films, Erivo and Grande’s frequent, warm interactions drew attention. That attention turned into gossip, and Erivo addressed it head-on in her Stylist interview: their bond is platonic, and the idea that affection or chemistry automatically equals romance says more about cultural assumptions than about their relationship.
Why this matters
Erivo’s response isn’t just a denial; it’s a critique. She argued that when two women are often seen together — laughing, hugging, supporting one another onstage or off — observers are quick to slot that behavior into familiar scripts: rivalry, scandal or romance. Those shortcuts erase the reality of deep, sustaining friendships and pressure women to explain or justify ordinary intimacy.
Context and background
Public figures’ past relationships often get pulled into new stories. Media coverage has previously linked Grande to fellow cast member Ethan Slater and associated Erivo with writer-producer Lena Waithe. Such histories are repeatedly invoked whenever fresh rumors surface, which can amplify speculation even when there’s no evidence.
The wider pattern
This episode highlights a broader tendency in celebrity culture: visible affection between women is frequently sexualized or reduced to headline-friendly narratives. That framing can make authentic companionship seem performative or mysterious to outsiders. By naming the problem, Erivo sought to normalize intense, nonromantic bonds and to urge more respectful, nuanced reporting.
What changes — and what doesn’t
A single interview won’t silence curiosity overnight, but Erivo’s clarification adds a clear, authoritative voice to the conversation. Journalists and fans might rethink reflexive assumptions when they see women supporting each other in public. At the very least, her comments are a reminder to take people’s own descriptions of their relationships seriously before turning them into stories. Her remarks in Stylist aim to broaden how we see female friendship — and to protect the right of people, famous or not, to define those bonds on their own terms.