Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo have once again made headlines after their recent red carpet interaction raised eyebrows, following a series of unusual moments during their promotional tour for Wicked: For Good.
The co-stars, who have already drawn attention for their eccentric exchanges, were involved in another awkward incident when Erivo spent a prolonged period adjusting Grande’s diamond necklace during an interview.
In the now-viral clip, Erivo, 38, is seen stopping the interview to fiddle with Grande’s necklace for what many fans claimed was no apparent reason. “Something is bothering her; she’s going to fix something. I know her,” Grande says, as Erivo continues adjusting the necklace.
“I’m so sorry,” Erivo responds, insisting that something isn’t right. “She’s getting the fixing itch that Cynthia Erivo gets,” Grande adds, as Erivo twists the necklace back and forth. The interaction has sparked widespread criticism online, with many questioning the necessity of the adjustments, as per the Daily Mail.
One Reddit user wrote, “Why is the whole family targeting Aliza, and 2 lakh is not enough for two children if they are given a good lifestyle nowadays?” Another commented, “She literally turned it the wrong way and back to where it was just so she could be more involved in the interview.” A third added, “It is so crazy how she fixed nothing.”
The bizarre moment is just the latest in a series of over-the-top exchanges between the two stars. During the Wicked: For Good premiere in Paris, the pair was asked to describe each other’s “auras” by a journalist. Ariana described Cynthia’s aura as “yellow, like sunshine,” adding, “I think there’s also purple.” Cynthia returned the compliment by describing Ariana’s aura as “aqua, like sunset-orange.”
This public display of admiration sparked mockery on social media, with one person writing, “I can’t go through this again,” referencing their previous “cringeworthy” interactions from last year’s press tour. In an interview with Out Magazine, the two stars were also criticized for their overly emotional reaction during a discussion about Wicked’s closing number, Defying Gravity.
Erivo later explained that the moment was an innocent misunderstanding, adding, “It was all so confusing, so that all of us were, in the end, confused but… moved.” The media frenzy around Grande and Erivo intensified this week after Grande was ambushed by a man while walking the red carpet at the Singapore premiere of Wicked: For Good.
The incident, involving a man known as “Pyjama Man,” left Grande reportedly spiraling into a “PTSD” episode. Erivo and her security team stepped in quickly to protect Grande, highlighting the vulnerability both stars face as they continue to navigate their high-profile careers.
With Wicked: For Good set to hit cinemas on November 21, both Grande and Erivo seem to be facing intense public scrutiny as they prepare for the next chapter in their highly anticipated film franchise.
