Erivo cites 2021 start of bond with Grande as critics question female friendship

Cynthia Erivo pushed back against online criticism of her public friendship with Ariana Grande on Tuesday. Speaking to The Guardian, the actress said she was surprised by the level of analysis applied to her relationship with her co-star from the musical film Wicked.

Erivo described the reaction as a strange annoyance that two women could simply be friends. She noted that many people acted like psychologists from their couches while watching the press tours for the two-part movie adaptation.

The pair began their collaboration in 2021 after being cast as Elphaba and Glinda. Their work continued through the release of the first film in 2024 and its sequel, Wicked: For Good, in 2025.

Erivo detailed the specific complaints she heard from critics. She quoted the sentiment that there must be something wrong with them if they were so connected. She asked why they were showing emotion, why they were allowed to cry, and why they were laughing.

She called the dynamic a double-edged sword. Erivo explained that if she and Grande appeared dead behind the eyes with no emotion, critics would have found a different reason to complain.

The actress also addressed the idea that she serves as Grande’s bodyguard. This notion gained traction after a viral incident at a premiere in Universal Studios Singapore in November 2025.

During that event, a man named Johnson Wen jumped over a barricade to grab Grande. Erivo, who stood beside her on the red carpet, stepped in to protect her. She said her immediate response was to get the man away because they were exposed.

Erivo said the situation went too far when a journalist later asked if she was a protector. She felt it was strange to be ripped to shreds for doing a naturally human thing for a friend. She added that she wishes people could agree on the proper balance of emotion to show, rather than dictating exactly how much is allowed.