Cynthia Erivo has spoken openly about the rumors linking her to Ariana Grande, after a very close friendship between them during their press tours. Wicked and its continuation Wicked: For Good.
Pictures of them posing face to face and holding hands together sparked speculation of a romantic relationship.
"At first, I think people didn't understand how it was possible for two women to be friends - close - and not lovers," Erivo told Stylist.
"I've never talked about it, but there was a strange fascination with the two of us, where people either thought we were dressing up for the cameras or that we were in love."
She added that emotional connections between women are often misunderstood: "I think that's because there's very little conversation about platonic female friendship, which is deep and real, even though it exists everywhere. We're not used to seeing it on camera, in front of people."
Grande, for her part, admitted that during events she often shares physical contact to express support and energy: "Yeah, yeah. I channel a lot of energy through my hands. And so I always hold a hand," she said on the Good Hang podcast with Amy Poehler.
Their friendship was also strengthened during an incident during the premiere of Wicked: For Good Asia-Pacific in Singapore, when Erivo stepped in to protect Grande from an angry fan. Grande said, "I just wanted to support you. I said, 'Oh my God.' And I felt sweet. I felt beautiful. And it was amazing."
Both stars have insisted that their relationship is simply a close and platonic friendship, although close moments have fueled rumors in the media. /Telegraph/
