Ariana Grande Finally Sets the Record Straight on Cynthia Erivo — and the Fan Backlash

As Wicked: For Good creeps toward release, the chatter around the movie has morphed into something else entirely: everyone wants to talk about Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo being joined at the hip. Cute to some, unnerving to others, and definitely a little odd on camera, their dynamic has become the story. Now Ariana is finally explaining why it looks the way it does.

So... what is going on with the hand-holding?

On the A Good Hang podcast with Amy Poehler, Ariana got asked about the very visible closeness between her and Cynthia — the constant touching, the gestures that read more like caretaking than co-starring. Ariana said it is not a romantic thing; it is how she manages energy around people she loves and trusts.

"I channel a lot of energy through my hands."

She explained that she is often reaching for a hand, squeezing, fidgeting — basically grounding herself through touch — and honestly did not clock how much of it she was doing until the internet made it A Topic. Which, to be fair, it very much did.

Why fans are weirded out

If you have only caught clips in passing, here is the gist of what set people off: a lot of hand-holding, a lot of necklace adjusting that does not seem necessary, one moment of yelling at a helicopter, and a viral bit of Cynthia fussing over Ariana's arm like she might shatter. That combo got labeled everything from co-dependent to outright obsessive by folks who cannot stand the vibe in interviews.

• One viral post argued that Cynthia is treating Ariana like a porcelain doll and needs to ease up (Nov 16, 2025).
• Another called their public behavior creepy and satanic — yes, really (Nov 16, 2025).
• There is also the take that Cynthia’s Wicked-era fixation comes off possessive, not sisterly, and that Ariana looks drained (Nov 16, 2025).
• Some say the dynamic is so off-putting it makes them less interested in seeing Wicked: For Good at all (Nov 16, 2025).
• Others half-joked the two should be separated for a bit because something feels off (Nov 17, 2025).
• And plenty just flatly call the relationship super weird (Nov 19, 2025).

To be fair, there are defenders pushing back and telling everyone to relax — but the negative reactions are definitely louder right now.

How Ariana and Cynthia describe it

From their side, this is deep, chosen-family territory. Ariana told the New York Times that one of the best parts of the whole experience was feeling consistently held and supported; she always had a friend right there with her. At the 2024 Met Gala, she took it further, calling Cynthia her sister and saying they found things in each other that they needed. Cynthia has returned the favor in interviews, calling Ariana the best gift she got from this project and saying she would pick her as Glinda again in a heartbeat.

The matching ink

They have even marked it permanently. Ariana told the Times they have gotten many tattoos together. The ones we know about: matching poppy flower drawings on their hands, and matching For Good tattoos on their palms — both visible in Ariana’s Instagram posts. There may be more we have not seen yet.

Where I land on this

Look, on red carpets and junkets, the extra handsy stuff plays strange on camera, especially when it veers into fixing necklaces that do not need fixing. At the same time, Ariana’s explanation tracks: some people are tactile. Whether you find it sweet or a little much probably depends on your tolerance for public intimacy between co-stars.

Wicked: For Good hits theaters November 21, 2025. If you want a refresher before then, Wicked is available to rent or buy on Prime Video.