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In this column, Regan discusses celebrity drama and controversies.
Is CYNTHIANA over?
Is CYNTHIANA over?
By Regan Snyder
By Regan Snyder
Acting is a Hollywood staple, but in the world of the rich and famous, it can be hard to tell where the performance begins and ends. Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, the stars of the movies Wicked and Wicked: For Good, have displayed an intense and intimate friendship since the beginning of the first movie’s filming. However, they recently seem to have gone their own ways, leaving fans wondering whether what they shared was real at all.
Grande and Erivo first became friends in Nov. 2021, following both landing prominent roles in the film Wicked. However, their media presence during filming was limited and they did not make any significant public appearances until the movie's press tour commenced in Sept. 2024. This press tour gained them virality online, as people noted the two women’s profound emotional attachment to one another. The extent of their friendship was on full display, with Grande stating in an interview with Jacob Elyachar that “I think we found a little piece of ourselves in each other. I think there are little pieces of us that, when we got together to do this together, when we first started, each of us was missing a little chunk.” They gained even more virality in Dec. 2025, due to their iconic interview with Tracy E. Gilchrist, in which Gilchrist spoke about how fans were “holding space” with the lyrics of the song “Defying Gravity”. In an interview with Variety, both women admitted that they did not understand the interviewer but played along anyway. Despite the awkwardness, this moment solidified Grande and Erivo’s pop culture relevance, as it became a massively successful meme on TikTok.
Image of Ariana Grande (right) and Cynthia Erivo (left), credits to Vulture
Starting in Nov. 2025, the Wicked: For Good press tour began. However, the media buzz around it was less positive. Fans felt concerned by Grande and Erivo’s seemingly codependent relationship, with many also noticing the pair's extreme weight loss. In interviews, they could often be seen crying or holding onto each other, with Erivo appearing defensive towards anyone interacting with Grande. In one instance, an interviewer shook Grande’s arm, leading Erivo to hastily snatch it back, sending a furious glare at the assailant. These interviews sparked a wave of parodies across social media. Many made memes of the situation, portraying Erivo as Grande’s dominant “alpha” protector. Others began to speculate that the two women were in a romantic relationship, dubbing them with the ship name “Cynthiana”. Hype for the upcoming film was apparent but was largely overshadowed by the speculation and concern around Grande and Erivo’s relationship.
Later in November, a satirical Facebook post went viral, claiming that the two actors are in a “non-demi-curious semi-binary” relationship. The post faked an explanation from Erivo, stating, “It means that we are not actually a couple, but we are curious about what that might mean and everything.” This post gained significant traction, with many believing that the information came directly from the two women. Erivo decided to officially clarify these rumors in an interview with Stylist. She told them that her and Grande’s relationship is strictly platonic and that fans were likely speculating because, in her words, “a relationship where people are connected sometimes just makes people uncomfortable.” With the air finally cleared, the Wicked: For Good press tour came to a close.
Recently, people have been speculating about whether or not Erivo and Grande’s friendship was anything more than a PR stunt. An anonymous source has reached out to MailOnline, claiming to be close with Grande. They stated that “Ariana and Cynthia definitely forged a bond while filming both Wicked and the sequel, but the truth is they never hung out when the cameras weren’t around.” The source went on to state that the two actors have taken a much-needed break from being constantly around each other, as they had been for the last couple of years. Many fans saw this as evidence that Erivo and Grande were never truly friends, pointing out the exaggerated and nearly comical interactions the two women shared in interviews. Many felt betrayed, deeming that their relationship was just another means of advertising and gaining publicity for the movies.
When it comes to Hollywood, public relationships are often smoke and mirrors. There is no telling when friendships are real or fabricated, but that certainly does not stop people from speculating. People’s concern over Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo’s relationship has spilled into a controversy of its own-- one built entirely on rumors, lies, and inference.
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