Skip to content 
Cynthia Erivofriendship with Ariana Grande takes center stage again.
The English actress has once again addressed the report that her protective instinct to protect the “Petal” singer from a harassing fan translates into being a hired bodyguard.
Since Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande starred in “Wicked,” their close relationship has raised eyebrows, with many thinking that they are more than friends. Both have moved to silence those rumors over the past year; however, they keep resurfacing.
Cynthia Erivo doubles down on fans’ judgment of her relationship with Ariana Grande
Erivo responds to whispers that made waves among fans regarding her relationship with Grande during the press tours for “Wicked” and “Wicked: For Good.” She addressed criticism about her off-screen relationship with the “7 Rings” singer during the musical’s two-part press tour, especially after she went into defense mode for the Nickelodeon alum.
“It was interesting that a lot of people had become psychologists from their courts,” Erivo said, adding that she felt most people were embarrassed “that two women could be friends.”
She confirmed that fans were questioning their relationship and the authenticity of every emotion they had in their interviews while promoting the films. Calling the response a “double-edged sword,” the “Prima Facie” star explained that if she and her co-star didn’t have an emotional connection, they would be called out too.
Erivo spoke at the Viral Defense Event
The “Wicked” star who played Elphaba in the 2024 musical addressed the “scary” incident where she stepped in to protect Grande from a fan in a recent interview with The Guardian. During a public appearance in Singapore on November 13, 2025, a fan ran up to the actresses and put his arms around the “Positions” singer.
Erivo explained, seeing that happen while they were on a crowded carpet with no one else moving, her first instinct was to “get this guy away from us now.” She immediately pulled her friend away as they moved through the line.
Photos of the event went viral, and people called Erivo out for being Grande’s “bodyguard.” The term did not sit well with her, as she explained that it was a human instinct to step in to protect her friend, a move she hopes her friend would have made for her.
Cynthia Erivo Says race played a role in the Bodyguard tag
Earlier this year, the Tony winner addressed the issue in another interview, confirming her belief that her appearance and race played a role in the viral “bodyguard” label.
I think we haven’t really addressed the brutal nature of how we look at black women,” she said, adding that the criticism was heavy for her action in defending her friend from a Singaporean fan based on her appearance as a black woman.
“Because that’s what made it fun. It was my body; it was my shape; it was the fact that I was bald; it was about how I was,” said Erivo. She also pointed out that these stereotypes affected the comments online, as many netizens could not accept that the relationship was real, as reported by The Blast.
The EGOT Nominee maintains their relationship is Platonic
In November 2025, Grande and Erivo shared that they got “For Good” tattoos. Furthermore, the actresses have been inseparable during the film’s press tours, often holding hands.
Many fans interpreted their constant physical touch in interviews and red carpet appearances as a sign that they loved him, especially since Erivo is openly LGBTQ+. The Blast reported that the London-born entertainer said people had a “strange expectation” in their relationship and could not understand how two women could be close friends without romantic ties.
“I think it’s because there’s so little talk about a platonic female friendship that’s deep and real, even though it’s everywhere. We’re not used to seeing it on camera, in front of people,” explained Erivo, adding that most people were uncomfortable because of how she and Grande were connected.
What did Ariana Grande say about her relationship with Cynthia Erivo?
Grande spoke to the handset, telling the media that she channels a lot of energy and support through her hands; therefore, taking hold of who she is has become normal.
Fans continued to ship the “Wicked” stars on tours last year, and the “Impact” alum told The Hollywood Reporter that people thought they were “secretly married.” Both actresses have been in romantic relationships with individuals.
People went the extra mile to create sexual artwork of Erivo and Grande’s characters in the musical. The former child star explained that some of the art had become too graphic, and she wished she could “unsee it”.
Grande explained that they built a bond of devoted sisters over the years they spent filming and that they took care of each other. Despite their physical closeness, these feelings have not developed into something romantic.
Will Cynthia Erivo’s words finally put an end to the speculation?
