Cynthia Erivo addressed rumors that she and her \u201cWicked\u201d co-star Ariana Grande are involved romantically.<\/p>\n
Erivo, 39, and Grande, 32, co-starred in the two-part film adaptation of the beloved musical, and their closeness during the press tours<\/a> had some fans questioning their relationship. <\/p>\n Erivo called it \u201ca strange fascination\u201d in an interview with the Stylist <\/a>published on Feb. 10.<\/p>\n \u201cPeople either thought we were putting it on for the cameras or that we were lovers,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n Cynthia Erivo addressed rumors she and her \u201cWicked\u201d co-star Ariana Grande were lovers. WireImage<\/p>\n Erivo called it \u201ca strange fascination\u201d and explained that people were not used to seeing close platonic female friendships. WireImage for Universal Pictures<\/p>\n Erivo chalked it up to people not being accustomed to seeing \u201cdeep and real\u201d platonic female friendships.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re not used to seeing it on camera, in front of people,\u201d she said. \u201cA relationship where people are connected sometimes just makes people uncomfortable; we aren\u2019t taught that those relationships are good for us.\u201d<\/p>\n Back in November, Grande explained why she and Erivo \u201clike to touch each other\u201d<\/a> during her appearance on Amy Poehler\u2019s \u201cGood Hang\u201d podcast. The \u201cThank U, Next\u201d singer said she likes to \u201cchannel a lot of energy through [her] hands.\u201d<\/p>\n Grande\u00a0pointed out that she\u2019s \u201calways holding a hand, always squeezing something\u201d or \u201calways reaching for something,\u201d usually with whoever is near her.<\/p>\n Erivo shared, \u201cA relationship where people are connected sometimes just makes people uncomfortable.\u201d Ariana Grande\/Instagram<\/p>\n Grande played Glinda and Erivo played Elphaba in both \u201cWicked\u201d and \u201cWicked: For Good.\u201d \u00a9Universal\/Courtesy Everett Collection<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\tWant more celebrity and pop culture news?\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tStart your day with Page Six Daily.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\tThanks for signing up!\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n She also said she and Erivo make an effort to maintain their close friendship.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re both so busy but do our best to stay connected in that way and to take care of each other so we can honor the project as much as humanly possible,\u201d she shared.<\/p>\n Her displays of physical affection, she noted, are meant \u201cto channel support and energy\u201d to loved ones.<\/p>\n Both Grande and Erivo are in relationships with other people. Grande is dating her \u201cWicked\u201d co-star Ethan Slater <\/a>while Erivo has been in a long-term relationship with \u201cChi\u201d creator Lena Waithe.<\/a><\/p>\n Their closeness on their press tours had fans questioning the nature of their friendship. The Academy via Getty Images<\/p>\n \u201cWicked: For Good\u201d was shut out by the Academy, receiving zero 2026 Oscar nominations. AP<\/p>\n \u201cWicked: For Good\u201d was surprisingly snubbed by the Academy,<\/a> receiving zero 2026 Oscars nominations. <\/p>\n Grande and Erivo were left out of the Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress categories for their roles as Glinda and Elphaba, respectively, after their joint 2025 nominations.<\/p>\n The first \u201cWicked\u201d film received 10 nominations at the\u00a02025 Oscars<\/a>, winning for Best Costume Design and Best Production Design.<\/p>\n