Cynthia Erivo is finally talking about all the chatter over her friendship with Ariana Grande.

The two grew close while promoting "Wicked" in 2024. They stayed tight through the press run for "Wicked: For Good" in 2025.

Their emotional moments on that tour got picked apart online. Now Cynthia is sharing how it felt.

Armchair experts

In a new interview Cynthia said it struck her as odd how many people played psychologist from their couches.

She said some folks seemed "annoyed" that "two women could actually be friends." Others doubted their bond was even real.

She said people could not understand why the two cried or laughed together. To her they were just being "emotive" and "alive."

No winning

Cynthia called the whole reaction a "double-edged sword." Her point was simple. If the pair had looked "dead behind the eyes," people would have found something else to complain about.

Looking back

She did admit one thing could have helped. She thinks it would have been useful if someone had coached both of them on how to balance showing their feelings in public.

For fans who loved the two together, it sounds like the friendship was the real deal.