First of all, We love…love Cynthia Erivo. But it’s our job to report what Black folks are talking about. The internet has clocked the dynamic between Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande during the “Wicked: For Good” rollout, and a growing number of fans say the energy is starting to feel…off.
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Specifically, folks are calling out how Cynthia (a Black woman) often appears hyper-protective and hyper-attentive to Ariana, while Ariana often “rests in her femininity” as the girls like to say. And for many, this lopsided dynamic is exactly why the ick is beginning to creep in.
Now, don’t get it twisted fans and “Wicked” lovers alike have enjoyed watching these two blossom into their new friendship. But the unusually intense bond they formed during the production of 2024’s “Wicked” eventually started to strike folks as downright weird. At a certain point, the endless hand-kissing, crying, and clinging gave people major “What’s going on here?” energy — and now, fans are calling it out.
Content creator Medusa compares Erivo’s hyper-attentive body language to Samuel L. Jackson in Quentin Tarantino’s western/action, “Django.” And if you know anything about Jackson’s character, Stephen — the no-nonsense house slave — you know that’s not a comparison to take lightly.
“When you take into consideration how Erivo has made comments about Black Americans in the past, and now she’s rushing to defend a White woman who really does not need defending — yeah, it’s giving you wanna be mammy,” she said, adding that the “foreign girlies look forward to being in servitude to White people,” especially the “Nigerians and Caribbean girlies.” And on that note, fans had to sound off in the comments section as well.
“Thank you!!! She wants to be a Mammy soooo bad,” one fan wrote.
“Even Ariana is like ‘you doing too much Cynthia,’” a second added.
“I think this is a drag. I think those are two individuals who are dealing with each other. Everything is not about race,” a third contested.
Another creator, Farai Bennett, is totally fed up with the dynamic altogether stressing that after their press tour wraps, these girls shouldn’t contact one another for “at least the next two years.” The creator also called out Ariana’s ability to “Thank U, Next” her relationships — a power he feels she should use on Cynthia.
“It’s getting too weird, the damage is so far gone,” the creator explained. “Ariana, when you go on this tour, I’m gonna need you to give Cynthia the ‘Thank U, Next.’ Block her number,” he teased, “Even in her marriages… it’s a cute little run. But this has gone on too long.”
“Why do they seem trauma bonded?” one fan asked in the comments section.
“Is it me or are they starting to look alike?” a second teased.
“I’m sorry but 2017 Ariana would’ve laughed so hard at this two,” a third laughed.
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