Reddit/@https://www.reddit.com/r/popculturechat
Public interest in my romantic connection with Ariana Grande has reached excessive levels which I must explain through my own words. The Tony and Grammy-winning actress explained that most viewers could not understand their deep platonic relationship because they showed their friendship through the film.
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The two stars, who play Glinda and Elphaba in the upcoming film adaptation, displayed a notably close and emotionally expressive dynamic throughout the promotional circuit. The online community focused on their friendship because they frequently cried together and provided strong emotional support. The behavior displayed by the two people in public spaces created a situation which observers considered typical of Hollywood friendships.
The audience showed different opinions about their relationship. One commenter noted, “I never thought they were lovers… but some of their moments and reactions during that press tour looked very exaggerated, to the point it did look artificial and weird.” The shared backgrounds of the two people brought about their behavior. “They’re theater kids,” one person wrote. “This is entirely predictable and expected behavior from theater kids.”
The discussion started to focus on Erivo because people believed she faced unfair criticism. Many argued that racist stereotypes played a role in how the friendship was perceived. “You are correct. The hate and mockery was mostly directed to Cynthia,” one user stated. Another person explained, “People acted like Cynthia was sucking the life force out of Ariana… and it was very clearly racist.” Erivo people pointed out who created online parodies about him showed him as someone who controlled others or acted like a predator. The recent West End Dracula rehearsals show her continued dedication to theater.
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Erivo’s decision to speak out highlights the intense scrutiny female friendships face in the spotlight, particularly when they cross racial lines. The discussion about their relationship examined performativity, trauma and public acceptance of women who show close platonic friendship. The public has also seen Elphaba’s magical treehouse lair in promotional material. Her performance was notable when Cynthia Erivo stole the spotlight on Strictly Come Dancing. The bizarre Hollywood moment where she kissed Grande’s arm fueled much of the speculation.