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Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande are skipping interviews at the NY premiere of Wicked: For Good after Erivo fell ill and lost her voice, Universal confirms to PEOPLE
The costars and close friends will still hit the red carpet together
“We have come through some s—. I mean, f—, even this last week, let’s be honest,” Erivo told Variety on Nov. 15
Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande remain bonded, in sickness or in health.
The stars, who play Elphaba and Glinda in Wicked: For Good, will no longer be doing interviews at the New York City premiere of the film on Monday, Nov. 17 after Erivo lost her voice earlier in the day, Universal confirms to PEOPLE.
The onscreen duo, who often do press together, instead plan to walk the red carpet together.
“Unfortunately, Cynthia is not feeling well and has lost her voice, therefore she and Ariana will not be doing interviews this evening,” read a statement from the studio.
Their Wicked co-stars Jonathan Bailey and director Jon M. Chu are among those still expected to attend as well, along with Marissa Bode, Bowen Yang, Ethan Slater, Colman Domingo, Michelle Yeoh and Jeff Goldblum.
Earlier this month, Grande was forced to miss the Brazil premiere due to plane safety issues. The star was also attacked by a man on the red carpet of the Singapore premiere, where Erivo quickly stepped in to protect her. (The man was sentenced to 9 days in jail.)
John Nacion/Variety/Getty
Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande in 2024.
Following the whirlwind global publicity tour, which also included stops in Paris and London, both women attended the Governors Awards in Los Angeles on Sunday, Nov. 16 before flying across the country for the New York premiere.
The connection between the characters Grande, 32, and Erivo, 38, portray are the core of the origin story for the witches of Oz, which comes to a conclusion in the upcoming sequel to Jon M. Chu’s Wicked: Part One.
There will be several differences between Wicked: For Good and the second act of the Winnie Holzman and Stephen Schwartz Broadway musical it adapts — perhaps most notable being the addition of two new songs from Schwartz. Erivo performs ”No Place Like Home” and Grande sings “The Girl in the Bubble.”
For Good picks up after the events of Wicked: Part One, when a defiant Elphaba has been branded Oz’s enemy by the Wizard (Jeff Goldblum) and Madame Morrible (Michelle Yeoh).
“Elphaba, now demonized as The Wicked Witch of the West, lives in exile, hidden within the Ozian forest while continuing her fight for the freedom of Oz’s silenced Animals and desperately trying to expose the truth she knows about The Wizard,” reads a synopsis for the sequel, in part.
“Glinda, meanwhile, has become the glamorous symbol of Goodness for all of Oz, living at the palace in Emerald City and reveling in the perks of fame and popularity,” the synopsis continues. “Under the instruction of Madame Morrible, Glinda is deployed to serve as an effervescent comfort to Oz, reassuring the masses that all is well under the rule of The Wizard.”
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Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo in March 2025
Despite the ups and downs their characters face onscreen, Grande and Erivo’s connection behind the cameras has remained steadfast — and shines through most when they are singing together.
In the spring, Erivo opened up about working with Grande, revealing that singing with the star is “really exhilarating — a little bit addictive.”
“There’s a wonderful synergy when you’re working with a person who gets it, and they can look in your eyes and know exactly what you need, when you need it, without you having to say it,” Erivo said of Grande at a Canva event on April 10.
Erivo also said she and Grande “could always have this ongoing conversation about what we needed as the days went on,” and even developed a BFF language that allowed them to support each other.
People Magazine
PEOPLE’s ‘Wicked: For Good’ special issue
For more, including cast interviews and exclusive behind-the-scenes photos, pick up PEOPLE’s new special edition all about Wicked: For Good, available now.
“There were days where it’s like, ‘I’m exhausted and I don’t really have it today,’ and she’d be like, ‘Well, I’ve got it. What’s the word we need to use?’” Erivo recalled from their Wicked: Part One press tour. And when the tables were turned, she recalled telling Grande the same: “I’ve got you. What do you need?”
Wicked: For Good is in theaters Nov. 21.
Read the original article on People