What are your thoughts on Cynthia Erico’s and Ariana Grande’s behaviour?

[Graceey]

Obviously this is just light hearted gossip. They’re doing no harm.

But I absolutely fascinated by Ariana’s and Cynthia’s odd behaviour during the press tour for Wicked. They seem extremely close with one another. But I hate to say it comes across very contrived.

Ariana looks and acts like a fragile doll these days. In stark contrast to her previous pop star persona. And Cynthia has seemingly decided to play the role of her protector. It’s all very strange.

They have both lost a lot of weight. But what on Earth has happened to these two during filming?

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=nyfz2Uz9oI0&pp=ygUSY3ludGhpYSBhbmQgYXJpYW5h

This thread won’t be for everyone. But some of like to discuss the psychological aspects of behaviour. It’s obviously pure speculation

surely if it was PTSD she couldn’t be on stage either loud noises and bright lights right now.

Not necessarily. Stage lights and sounds are controlled, they might not be a trigger, but other things could be.

But the audience isn’t.
And things like red carpet events etc.

They can be controlled to a certain extend but I would have thought the shouts and camera flashes would be too overwhelming for someone with PTSD.

Obviously everyone handles things differently but I feel like if she was that bad then they wouldn’t keep forcing her to do interviews and carpet events etc and increase her security.

You don't know what Erivo's talent is? Have you heard her sing? Ariana Grande is also a great singer and a good performer. They might be getting on my nerves, but I have to acknowledge that they're both very good at what they do. It's just a shame it's going to their lollipop heads.

None of this has anything to do with a heavy filming schedule. They wrapped both films nearly 2 years ago. Filming concluded January 2024.

How do you know? Filming may have wrapped, but as you can see they are still heavily involved with the film - endless interviews, publicity campaigns; oscar campaigning etc

Ariane Grande both ended and started a relationship during filming - the fallout from that may be ongoing, the relationship may be stumbling. Who knows?

Pmsl at the idea that these two stick insects are just too busy to eat 🤣

They are waited on hand and foot! 🤣

You said "filming schedule" and clearly meant for these films, having mentioned "the men". What that has to do with her getting divorced and starting a new relationship, I don't know.

Cynthia Erivo has been doing things like hosting the Tony awards and 3 night plays here and these since Part 1 came out and Ariana has been recording music. Plenty of time to go back to their own separate nutritionists and personal trainers.

I know! And they have been apart for months until October when the press tours started so it's worrying that the group thin-ness is ongoing.

They were incredible singing at the Oscar’s this year. My take -they and PR team are trying to get viral moments trending and get general buzz about the film. It’s working. We can’t underestimate how much time and effort goes into these press tours and thinking about how the stars approach interviews, it’s a strategy. Truth is I think they get on but this is all acting to a certain degree and I don’t discount they are having a laugh and leaning into it. Both are seasoned performers that can turn on a dime.

The way everyone was fawning over CE on Strictly the week she was there made me want to throw up. It was very bizarre to watch.

Past roles - she and AG are just actors doing acting. It’s not that deep. In a year or two they’ll both be looking and acting differently.

https://www.theguardian.com/stage/gallery/2025/nov/21/wicked-cynthia-erivo-elphaba-stage-musicals-in-pictures

She is really beautiful in that picture. She looks much better with some fat in her face.

They both make me feel very uncomfortable. I don’t like the extreme weight loss. I think size zero is definitely trending in Hollywood again and it’s not a good thing. Bad role modelling.

They are both incredibly talented.

The excessive weight loss is a big concern though. Along with Michelle Yeoh. The set of Wicked doesn't appear to have been a healthy environment.

I think they are both weird but that’s Hollywood or “Hollyweird”.

Gosh, had no idea she’d been knocking around this long. She used to look better for sure though she’s no oil painting these days.

I think that one day, someone will write a memoir confirming that they spent the promotional cycle for both “Wicked” movies having a torrid affair with drugs, anorexia, and each other.

They’re 32 and 38, which in my mind is a little old for this to be dismissed as “silly young people.”

I think it’s quite well known that Ariana has PTSD after the Manchester bombing. I can’t speak as to their relationship away from the cameras but I feel that it is genuine, and Cynthia truly looks out for Ariana. Her speed and efficiency to protect Ariana really left a lot to be desired from the security. I do wonder if so many people would be questioning the motives of a male who had done what Cynthia did.

Oh I have no doubt that they form genuinely close bonds with one another, but I think there's also a massive push to create viral 'moments' for social media and this is driving some of the more OTT behaviour. Like Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga at the Oscars, it was so obviously meant to get everyone talking and speculating about the nature of their relationship. It's done with such intention it comes across as fake even though these are people who probably feel genuinely connected to one another.

Gaga and Cooper probably thought they were “acting” but the rest of the world wanted to make it something real.

Erivo and Grande’s performativity is on another level.

If they hadn't become so actually physically frail, I'd assume it was a huge joke. But looking at them yeesh

I didn't really know who Ariana Grande was until I watched the first one - so I thought she was always the way she is now. Seeing old videos of her and how she used to be - both how she looked and her personality - has been quite shocking really. Very very different.

The thinness is absurd. And I think irresponsible. Now CE has jumped on board and is also all sternum and ribcage. It's a problem in plain sight, and being complicity encouraged by all the love from the film. And I say that as someone who loves the movies, I just think it's very obviously a massive issue.

Codependance

It gives ally mcbeal vibes , where the cast got progressively thinner over the life of the series.