Jon M. Chu Defends Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo Amid Fan Backlash Over Their Unusual Friendship
Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo have faced a lot of attention for their interactions during red carpet events and promotions for the “Wicked” films.
Some fans have labeled their friendship as awkward or even “cringe-worthy,” like the viral clip of Erivo adjusting Grande’s necklace when it didn’t need fixing.
Despite the speculation, Grande has made it clear that her relationship with Erivo is purely platonic. She told The Hollywood Reporter earlier this year, “People think we’re secretly married.”
Cynthia Erivo gets an uncontrollable urge to “fix” Ariana Grande’s necklace mid-interview. 👀 pic.twitter.com/brDaCSIV2d
— Rain The Plug (@Raintheplug1) November 16, 2025
Now, “Wicked” director Jon M. Chu is speaking out to defend the actresses. He shared his thoughts on their friendship, saying, “For us to be at a time when you can have these two amazing women emerge from their shells to share love and friendship and the importance of that, unabashedly, no cynicism; to be able to share that vulnerability and wounds with the world, knowing people are going to come out with their knives, shame on people who put that down.”
“These girls are giving us everything, it is why people around the world are drawn to it, it’s why they love it and they’re sharing a real friendship that happened on set that I got to be a part of and we should honor that with everything that we have.”
jon m. chu addresses the hate surrounding ariana and cynthia’s friendship:
— Ariana Grande Today (@ArianaToday) December 2, 2025
“for us to be at a time when you can have these two amazing women emerge from their shells to share love and friendship and the importance of that, unabashedly, no cynicism; to be able to share that… pic.twitter.com/NPJIzJWTwD
Chu previously praised how the actresses’ friendship grew while working together. “It was one of the most beautiful friendships to watch grow,” he said.
He added that despite both being huge stars, “They could have hated each other… There could have been insane divaship, but they always put Wicked bigger than themselves. I think that’s a great sign of a great artist that they could immerse themselves in Elphaba and Galinda and find themselves within these characters.”
He continued, “It only makes Elphaba and Galinda bigger than life, and we get to know them more intimately than ever. I think that’s why it feels culturally relevant because of what they’re bringing to these characters. It made my job a lot easier.”
Chu’s comments highlight that the chemistry between Grande and Erivo comes from genuine friendship and professionalism. Their bond, he says, enhances their performances and makes the story of “Wicked” even more meaningful for audiences.
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