Cynthia Erivo calls out public scrutiny of her bond with Ariana Grande: ‘A double-edged sword’

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Actress Cynthia Erivo recently opened up about the intense scrutiny she and Ariana Grande faced for being close friends while promoting 'Wicked.'

The actress said people seemed bothered by their bond and questioned why two women could be so comfortable showing affection in public.

In a new interview, Erivo reflected on how their emotional moments during the film’s press tour became a talking point, saying people seemed to judge them whether they showed their feelings or kept them to themselves.

Cynthia Erivo addresses criticism of friendship with Ariana Grande

Erivo discussed the public reaction to her friendship with Grande in an interview with The Guardian while promoting her upcoming courtroom drama, 'Prima Facie.' The duo played Elphaba and Glinda in the 'Wicked' films and made headlines for their close bond during the promotional tour.

Their hugs, tears and emotional exchanges often went viral on social media. However, Erivo said the attention sometimes turned into criticism, with people questioning why they were so close.

"It was interesting that there were many people who had become psychologists from their couches," Erivo said. "There was this weird sort of, what’s the word I’m looking for... annoyance... at the fact that two women could actually be friends. Like, why are they friends? Why are they connected? There must be something wrong with them," she added.

The actress then explained how she felt about the reaction to their friendship. "Why are they showing emotion? How dare they cry? And how dare they laugh? And how dare they be emotive and alive? It’s a double-edged sword."

Erivo continued, "Because if we were dead behind the eyes and showing no emotion, there would have been something else to say about it. I wish there was someone who could have been like, 'Right, this is the proper balance of emotion that you should show. Don’t show this. Don’t show that. Just this amount.'"

Cynthia Erivo on protecting Ariana Grande during viral red carpet incident

During the interview, the actress also reflected on a viral incident during the 'Wicked: For Good' promotional tour in Singapore, when a man rushed toward Grande and grabbed her on the red carpet. At the time, Erivo quickly stepped in to protect her co-star.

Recalling the frightening moment, she said her immediate reaction was, "Get this man away from us now." However, the online reaction to the incident also bothered her. Some people began describing Erivo as Grande's "bodyguard."

"I was like: 'Oh, you think because I look like this that you could talk to me this way about something that was a human thing that I would have done for any friend, and hopefully a friend would have done for me,'" she said, adding, "But I must be a bodyguard."

Erivo also mentioned that the reaction reflected a wider problem with how people viewed her friendship with Grande.