Ariana Grande addresses secret marriage speculations with Cynthia Erivo: 'Wish I could unsee some things'
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Ariana Grande has cleared the air about her relationship with Cynthia Erivo.
Speculations about the 'Wicked' co-stars' close bond has led to rumors along with an outpouring of fanfiction. Now, the 'We Can't Be Friends' singer is shedding light on the nature of her friendship with Erivo.
Ariana Grande reacts to 'secret marriage' rumors with Cynthia Erivo
Fans captivated by Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo's chemistry have speculated about their relationship, leading to some surprising discoveries by the pop star.
"People think we're secretly married," Ariana said in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter on February 11.
She even came across 'Gelfie stuff'—fan-made content depicting a sapphic pairing of their characters Elphaba and Glinda—that took her by surprise.
"I wish I could unsee some things," Ariana admitted, adding "I mean, wow, I had a feeling, but I didn't know it would be on this scale or this graphic."
Ariana Grande praises Cynthia Erivo’s talent and friendship
The singer, who began dating co-star Ethan Slater in 2023, made it clear that despite the speculations, her bond with Cynthia Erivo remains a strong friendship.
"To work with someone who is just absolutely in their own league as a talent in the world—there's no one like her," Ariana said on Penn Badgley’s podcast 'Poscrushed' last June.
"To just feel like we somehow speak the same language and somehow we're destined to do this together and to feel safe every single day together and hold space," she said.
"We both have similar but different processes, similar but different needs, we're both opposite and the same," she added.
Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande’s bond strengthened their 'Wicked' roles
Cynthia Erivo, who is dating Lena Waithe, echoed Ariana Grande's sentiments, explaining how their friendship was integral to their performances in 'Wicked.'
"The crux of this particular piece is the relationship," Cynthia told E! News November last.
"If we couldn't be there for each other as Cynthia and Ari, then how could we possibly be there for the characters Elphaba and Glinda?" she added.
For Cynthia, their offscreen friendship made the experience even more meaningful.
"I think that there's something to be said for being able to make the space for a person who is going to share all that time with you," she said.
"It allows for the experience of making something to be 100,000 times more pleasurable than it could be if you don't. It serves us both to be that way for each other," she added.
