Cynthia Erivo, who co-starred in the musical film 'Wicked' series, has for the first time directly addressed rumors of a secret romance with Ariana Grande.
According to the Daily Mail's report on the 14th (local time), Erivo in a recent interview described the dating speculation sparked by press tour scenes in which she and Grande appeared overly affectionate as a "strange fascination (strange fascination)."
She said, "At first, people seemed unable to understand that the two women could be close friends and not lovers," noting, "There were guesses that we were performing for the cameras or that we were lovers."
She went on, "There is too little conversation about deep, real platonic friendships between women," adding, "People are just not used to seeing that kind of relationship in front of cameras."
The two attracted attention during the promotion period for the film 'Wicked' and its sequel 'Wicked: For Good' for posing holding hands tightly or with their faces close together. Erivo plays Elphaba, and Grande plays Glinda, showing strong chemistry.
Grande also said on a podcast, "I like holding hands. I transmit energy through my hands," explaining, "I wanted to express support and encouragement." In particular, a scene during the press tour in which Grande held Erivo's fingers went viral and fueled the dating rumors.
Their bond became more prominent when an incident occurred last year at the 'Wicked: For Good' Asia-Pacific premiere in Singapore, where a man rushed toward them. At the time, Erivo was captured shielding Grande, prompting reactions like "they look like a real family."
Ultimately, Erivo drew a line, saying, "People sometimes find the connection itself uncomfortable. But that kind of relationship is good for us." She made clear the message of a "solid friendship" instead of a dating rumor.
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