Cynthia Erivo has addressed the intense speculation surrounding her and 'Wicked' co-star Ariana Grande during the film's press tour. In a recent interview with Variety, Erivo discussed the challenges they faced, including concerns over their weight loss and the viral moment at the Singapore premiere where she protected Grande from a man who rushed the stage.
The 'Wicked' Press Tour and Speculation
Erivo and Grande have been inseparable throughout the promotional cycle for both 'Wicked' films. However, this closeness sparked a range of discourse, from lighthearted memes to more worrying speculation about their health. Erivo revealed that during the four-year 'Wicked' journey, they were 'holding on by threads' and truly looking out for each other.
'It's very interesting, watching what people's perception is versus what the reality actually is,' Erivo said with sarcasm. 'Lots of psychologists seated at home deciding who we were, what we were going through, what we were doing and why.' She firmly denied allegations that their friendship was fake, noting they still text most days.
The Singapore Incident
At the Singapore premiere of 'Wicked: For Good,' a man broke through security barriers and grabbed Grande. Erivo quickly pushed him away, a moment captured on camera and widely shared online. Erivo recalled that everyone was 'terrified' and explained, 'What people couldn't see is that he wouldn't let go [of Grande]. He wouldn't let go. So I just kept pushing at him to get him off.'
Erivo took issue with online comments labeling her as Grande's 'bodyguard.' She said, 'I think that we haven't really come to terms with the insidious nature of how we view Black women. And I'm sure people will read this and think, 'Oh, for goodness' sake, it's not about that.' But it is.'
She elaborated, 'Because that's what was being made fun of. It was my physique; it was my shape; it was the fact that I was bald; it was about what I looked like. And because of that, there was this assumption that I was bigger than my co-star and so I had to be controlling or protecting, and that was my role. I would hazard a guess that it would not have been the same had it been the other way around.'
The full interview is available on Variety's website.
