Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo are close friends and collaborators, best known for playing Glinda and Elphaba in Universal’s Wicked films. Despite persistent rumors of a falling out, both women have publicly affirmed their bond multiple times, most recently during a surprise onstage reunion in London in August 2026.
Their partnership began with a conscious commitment to protect each other during an unusually demanding production. Erivo revealed in her 2025 book, Simply More, that she and Grande made a pact before filming began. “We committed to protecting and caring for each other through this process,” she wrote, noting they wanted to avoid the ego battles that sometimes destroy creative partnerships.
That early connection formed quickly during a private meeting at director Jon M. Chu’s house. Erivo later told Elle that Stephen Schwartz, Wicked’s composer, played songs for them and they sang together for the first time. “It worked. It’s a very intimate thing to sing with someone,” she said, adding that they speak almost every day.
The Weight of a Global Press Tour
The promotional cycles for Wicked in 2024 and Wicked: For Good in 2025 placed enormous pressure on both performers. They appeared together constantly, cried during interviews, and were photographed holding hands at premieres. Fans responded to their visible affection, but the scrutiny also became intense and often invasive.
Erivo addressed this dynamic directly in a May 2026 Variety cover story. “It’s very interesting, watching what people’s perception is versus what the reality actually is,” she said. “Lots of psychologists seated at home deciding who we were, what we were going through, what we were doing and why.”
She also acknowledged the toll the tour took on them. In a separate interview, Erivo admitted that she and Grande were “holding on by threads” by the end of the massive promotional run. “We were really trying to take care of each other,” she recalled.Quick Bio: Ariana Grande vs. Cynthia Erivo
How the Rift Rumors Started
Speculation about a feud intensified in early 2026, fueled by a celebrity gossip blind item and the absence of a birthday tribute. Ariana Grande did not post a public message for Erivo’s birthday on January 8, 2026, after years of writing emotional Instagram tributes. She also attended the Golden Globes and Critics Choice Awards alone.
A source told the Daily Mail that Grande was intentionally stepping back after the intense Wicked promotion. “Their relationship was purely professional, and they’re moving in totally different directions career-wise,” the insider said, adding that they still text and call frequently. The Tab’s January 2026 analysis concluded that there was no evidence of an actual dramatic fallout, just two people who needed space after an exhausting chapter.
The Singapore Premiere Incident
One moment that shaped public perception of their friendship occurred in November 2025 at the Wicked: For Good premiere in Singapore. A man later identified as Johnson Wen jumped the barricade and rushed toward Grande. Erivo immediately pushed him away and shielded her co-star.
Erivo explained her instinct on the Today Show. “I wasn’t really thinking, I just wanted to make sure my friend was safe,” she said. “I’m sure he didn’t mean us harm, but you never know with those things. I wanted to make sure she was OK. That was my first instinct.” Wen was charged with public nuisance and sentenced to nine days in jail.
The public response to that moment, however, carried a darker dimension. Erivo told Variety that the online commentary reflected “the insidious nature of how we view Black women.” She said her physique, her shape, and her bald appearance were mocked, leading to assumptions that she had to be controlling or protective. “I would hazard a guess that it would not have been the same had it been the other way around,” she said.
Erivo Sets the Record Straight
In May 2026, Erivo used her Variety cover story to reject the idea that her friendship with Grande was performative. “I think that people didn’t really believe that we were actually friends,” she said. “But that’s also because people don’t know me very well. If I’m a friend, then I’m a friend. If I’m not, then I’m not.”
She confirmed that despite their busy schedules, she and Grande still text each other almost every day. That detail alone contradicts the narrative that their bond ended when the cameras stopped rolling. As Grande herself told NPR in 2025, “It was important to us from the very beginning to build something real and to know that we could have a safe space in each other for this journey.”
A Surprise Reunion on Stage
Any remaining doubts dissolved on August 16, 2026. Cynthia Erivo made a surprise appearance at Ariana Grande’s Eternal Sunshine Tour concert at London’s O2 Arena. The two performed the Wicked duet For Good, followed by a recreation of Judy Garland and Barbra Streisand’s 1963 medley of Get Happy and Happy Days Are Here Again.
It was their first live performance together since NBC’s Wicked: One Wonderful Night in November 2025. The sold-out crowd witnessed something that felt genuinely unscripted and emotional. Erivo posted a tribute on Instagram the following day, calling Grande “my sweet sister” and “my favorite person to sing with.” She wrote, “I missed this. We missed this. I will never forget this night. Like a handprint on my heart.”
Grande responded in the comments with equal warmth. “It’ll always come back to this… just as it started,” she wrote. “I’m so grateful for this moment & for you… love you always.”
Awards and Shared Achievement
Their professional partnership has also produced tangible recognition. In 2026, Erivo and Grande won the Grammy Award for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for Defying Gravity from Wicked. It was Grande’s third Grammy win and Erivo’s second. Erivo’s performance as Elphaba earned her nominations at the Golden Globes, SAG Awards, Critics’ Choice, BAFTA, and the Academy Awards. Grande received an Oscar nomination for her role as Glinda.
Erivo has described their bond in familial terms. “This is a long-lasting friendship for us,” she told Today in November 2025. “We’re kind of like sisters at this moment. I think we’ve both learned from each other and given each other some really, really beautiful gifts.”Frequently Asked Questions
Are Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo still friends?
Yes, both women have consistently confirmed their friendship is genuine and ongoing. In a May 2026 Variety interview, Erivo stated she and Grande text “just about every day,” adding, “If I’m a friend, then I’m a friend. If I’m not, then I’m not.” Grande echoed this sentiment in 2025, saying they built “something real” from the very beginning.
Why did people think they had a falling out?
Speculation intensified in early 2026 when Grande did not post a public birthday tribute for Erivo and attended awards shows alone. Anonymous gossip sources claimed they were “purely professional,” but Erivo directly addressed the rumors, saying people “didn’t really believe that we were actually friends” because they misunderstood her personality.
What happened at the Singapore premiere with the fan?
In November 2025, a man named Johnson Wen rushed the red carpet at the Wicked: For Good Singapore premiere and grabbed Grande. Erivo immediately pushed him away to protect her co-star. Wen was arrested and sentenced to nine days in jail for public nuisance.
Did they win any awards for Wicked?
Yes. In 2026, Erivo and Grande won the Grammy Award for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for their rendition of “Defying Gravity.” Grande now has three Grammy wins, while Erivo has two, bringing her closer to EGOT status.
Did Wicked: For Good get Oscar nominations?
No. Despite the first Wicked film earning 10 Oscar nominations in 2025, the sequel received zero nominations at the 2026 Academy Awards. Both Erivo and Grande were snubbed in their respective acting categories, a result widely described as a shock given their prior nominations and awards-season presence.
