If the world is agreeing on anything in recent days, it is that the press tour for ‘Wicked: For Good’, like that of the first film and the famous “holding space” interview or the continuous crying, is being a media delirium. Day after day, news, a controversy, a meme emerge from this promotional round. The intimate relationship between its two protagonists, Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, is being the talk of the networks, showing the best of the internet and also the worst.
The best thing is to see gifs generated from Erivo’s surprised reactions linked to different episodes, for example, the breakup of Los Javis. Or those who ironize the excessively affectionate friendship between the two, and Erivo’s apparently protective behavior towards Grande. Particularly commented on was the episode in Singapore in which a fan assaulted Grande and Erivo intervened… well, as if he were filming the end of ‘Wicked’ and saving Glinda from evil.
Erivo’s supposedly overprotective behavior towards Grande, also suggested in the videos in which he adjusts her necklace, or in the way he frequently touches her or pays attention to every minimal physical gesture that Grande makes during an interview, is generating laughter in the public, and I am not surprised: at first it does not seem like very natural behavior, and it even seems excessive. Grande herself has implied, during an interview, that Erivo is simply like that.
Cynthia Erivo taking care of Ariana Grande’s room: pic.twitter.com/YSmmbQfYQ7
— Talking Transvestite 🏳️⚧️ (@odarade Verdade) November 17, 2025
If you have seen any interviews with Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, these two ladies do a brilliant imitation of just how cringey they are together! pic.twitter.com/SThrKaWYfx
— Hollywood Horror Museum (@horrormuseum) November 17, 2025
now the javis are the javi and the javi pic.twitter.com/5WfKfrxoxS
— fomo (@vicxses) November 11, 2025
I’m like this with all the videos that appear to me of Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo pic.twitter.com/Fw2UCUEVGr
— kevsho (@kevsho9) November 16, 2025
Things, however, turn sinister and dark when Internet users begin to call Erivo things like “satanic succubus” (I’m not saying this because of the video of YouTuber Selena Milan, whose opinion I appreciate despite the dubious clickbait) or her “caregiver” for her excessive attention to the singer. Aside from the racial implications of both labels, which, although not obvious, are hovering over there, I don’t know how this description can be adjusted to reality. It would never occur to me to sexualize Erivo for taking care of or overprotecting Grande, a person who, after all, is younger and has experienced very difficult situations during her career. The transphobic comments directed at Erivo – a cis person, although her sexual identity is irrelevant – because of her toned appearance would be laughable if not sad.
The episode in Singapore is especially revealing: we all remember the Manchester attacks, but these types of personalized attacks on artists or public figures have also occurred in recent years: Billie Eilish suffered a similar episode during a concert recently, and – leaving aside the distance – we all remember what happened to Christina Grimmie. Although the Singapore fan’s assault comes to nothing, Grande has reason to be alarmed and Erivo to act.
@estilodf A fan ran towards Ariana Grande at the premiere of ‘Wicked: Part 2’ in Singapore and Cynthia Erivo reacted instantly to protect her.👀 CC: @lanagrandes in
Grande and Erivo’s friendship is particular, but their lives, the context in which they find themselves, are also particular. Grande and Erivo have built a strong emotional bond during the filming of ‘Wicked’, a film in which they play two close friends. It is evident that there is an emotional synchrony between the two, motivated by the characters they have played and the media pressure they are under. It seems more evident to me that both are still attached to their respective characters and that it is Elphaba and Glinda who we see in this promotional round.
Recently, Erivo has canceled interviews after losing her voice (she appeared dysphonic on Jimmy Fallon’s show, barely speaking with a thread of voice) and Grande has done the same in solidarity. Either we listen to both, or neither.
There is a kind of symbiosis between the two, generated by their particular context, probably also by their personalities, and by the enormous pressure under which they find themselves. Erivo protects Grande, Grande protects Erivo; Somehow, Elphaba and Glinda go from fiction to reality and show us that friendship and mutual care can make the world a little more beautiful, more attentive, more affectionate, and even if unintentionally, also a little more fun. The rest is noise.
