Cynthia Erivo reveals she and Ariana Grande ‘still text almost every day’ after ‘Wicked’ wrapped
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Questions about Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande’s friendship started soon after the two actresses began working together on 'Wicked.' Now, Erivo has finally opened up about the bond she shares with the 'Into You' singer.
The actress revealed that she and Grande still keep in touch and text each other almost every day, even though they are not currently working on any project together.
Erivo also addressed the rumors about their friendship, saying, “I think that people didn’t really believe that we were actually friends.” She also shut down online speculation that their relationship was romantic.
Cynthia Erivo addresses Ariana Grande friendship rumors after ‘Wicked’ success
During an interview with Variety, Erivo spoke about her close friendship with Grande and the online attention their bond received during the promotion of the 'Wicked' films.
The Tony Award-winning actress shared that she and Grande still text each other almost every day. She also reacted to the many assumptions people made about their relationship online.
“It’s very interesting, watching what people’s perception is versus what the reality actually is,” Erivo told the publication. “Lots of psychologists seated at home deciding who we were, what we were going through, what we were doing and why.”
Erivo said many people misunderstood their friendship and added, “I think that people didn’t really believe that we were actually friends.”
She further explained that she values real friendships and does not pretend to be close to someone if she is not. “But that’s also because people don’t know me very well. If I’m a friend, then I’m a friend. If I’m not, then I’m not.”
Erivo says viral 'Wicked: For Good' Singapore premiere backlash made her feel unfairly judged after protecting Grande.
Cynthia Erivo says backlash over Ariana Grande friendship focused on her looks
During the same interview, Erivo shared that she believes the online conversation would not have stopped even if her friendship with Grande had never been in the spotlight.
The ‘Wicked’ actress explained that much of the attention was not really about Grande at all, but about how people viewed her appearance and personality online.
“And I’m sure people will read this and think, ‘Oh, for goodness’ sake, it’s not about that.’ But it is. Because that’s what was being made fun of. It was my physique; it was my shape; it was the fact that I was bald; it was about what I looked like.”
Erivo said people quickly created stories about her role in the friendship because of those assumptions. She felt many online users decided she had to be the “protective” or “controlling” one just because of how she looked beside her co-star.
“And because of that, there was this assumption that I was bigger than my co-star, and so I had to be controlling or protecting, and that was my role. I would hazard a guess that it would not have been the same had it been the other way around.”
