Okay, so Cynthia Erivo just dropped some truth bombs, and honestly, it’s about damn time somebody said it out loud. She’s talking about all those crazy rumors that started swirling around during the Wicked press tour- that she and Ariana Grande were, like, lovers. Not friends. Not colleagues. Lovers. Because apparently, in 2024, two women can’t just be genuinely, deeply friendly without everyone immediately jumping to conclusions, right?

“Oh My God, They Were Roommates!” – But Like, Not Even That

Erivo, bless her heart, told The Stylist this week – and yeah, she’s 39, not 390, just to be clear, the article got that wrong – that people just didn’t get it. They couldn’t wrap their heads around the idea of two women being that close without it being romantic. And she’s right, it’s nuts. She said, “At first, I think people didn’t understand how it was possible for two women to be friends – close – and not lovers.”

I mean, come on. Is this still where we are? It’s not just a little bit frustrating, it’s actually kind of insulting. To both of them, you know? It’s like, your friendship, your genuine connection, it just has to be something else. Something spicy. Something for the gossip mill. Because a deep, platonic bond between women? That’s apparently a unicorn. A mythical beast no one’s ever seen before.

And she hit the nail on the head, didn’t she? Erivo pointed out there was “this strange fascination with the two of us, where people either thought we were putting it on for the cameras or that we were lovers.” Both of those options are equally annoying, if I’m being honest. Either they’re faking it for PR – because, you know, female friendship is a commodity now? Or they’re secretly hooking up. There’s no middle ground. No “they genuinely connected and found a kindred spirit in each other.” Nope. Not allowed.

The Real Tea: We’re Bad At Seeing Real Female Friendship

Here’s the thing. And this is the part that really grinds my gears. Erivo laid it out: “And I think it’s because there’s such little conversation around platonic female friendship that is deep and real, even though it exists everywhere. We’re not used to seeing it on camera, in front of people.”

She’s not wrong. Think about it. When you see two women on screen, and they’re really, really close? It’s almost always implied romance. Or, they start out platonic, and then BAM, they’re kissing. Or one of them is secretly pining. It’s rare, truly rare, to see a movie or a TV show where the deepest, most pivotal relationship is a platonic female friendship, without any romantic undertones ever. And if it is, it’s usually framed as a quirky side story, not the main event.

It’s like we, as a society, are so conditioned to see relationships through a romantic lens that anything that deviates from that template just short-circuits people’s brains. Especially when it’s two famous, talented women. You see them laughing, hugging, supporting each other on a grueling press tour – which, by the way, those things are exhausting – and the immediate jump is to “lovers.” Not “they’re helping each other survive this madness.”

Is It Just The Internet, Or Is This Deeper?

You know, you could say, “Oh, it’s just Twitter. It’s just online weirdos.” And yeah, a lot of it probably is just that. The internet loves to ship people. It loves to create narratives, especially when it involves celebrities. And let’s be real, Ariana Grande has been under a microscopic lens lately for her personal life, so anything she does or anyone she’s seen with gets amplified times a million.

But Erivo’s point about the lack of conversation around deep platonic female friendship? That feels deeper than just internet fodder. It feels like a societal blind spot. We celebrate romantic love constantly. We celebrate family bonds. We celebrate bromances, sometimes. But sisterhood, the kind that’s just about loving and supporting another woman, without any romantic or familial ties? It’s often overlooked, or worse, sexualized.

“And I think it’s because there’s such little conversation around platonic female friendship that is deep and real, even though it exists everywhere. We’re not used to seeing it on camera, in front of people.” – Cynthia Erivo

I’ve seen this pattern before. Two women get super close, especially in a professional setting, and people just start whispering. “Are they… you know?” And it’s always delivered with this knowing look, as if friendship isn’t enough. As if there has to be some ulterior motive or a hidden romantic layer to justify that level of intimacy and support. It’s frustrating. Really, really frustrating.

What This Actually Means

So, what does this all mean for us, beyond Erivo and Grande? It means we’ve got some serious work to do. We need to normalize, celebrate, and actively show deep, authentic, platonic female friendships. Everywhere. In media, in our own lives, in how we talk about relationships. Because if we don’t, we’re sending a really messed-up message to young girls and women – that their deepest bonds with other women aren’t quite valid unless there’s a romantic spark, or they’re family.

And that’s just not true. Some of the most profound, life-affirming relationships I’ve ever had, and I bet you have too, are with my girlfriends. The ones who show up, listen without judgment, celebrate your wins like they’re their own, and kick your ass when you need it. Those friendships are gold. Pure gold. And they don’t need to be anything else to be incredibly powerful and real.

So, for Erivo to speak out about this, to basically say, “Hey, we’re just friends, get over it,” it’s not just about her and Ariana. It’s about pushing back against this reductive idea of what female relationships can be. It’s about demanding that we see and respect the full spectrum of human connection. Because sometimes, a relationship where people are connected sometimes just makes… sense. Without the need for a label. Without the need for gossip. Just two incredible women, doing their thing, and being there for each other. And honestly, that’s beautiful enough.