‘Always squeezing’: Why Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo are so touchy-feely during the Wicked press tour
Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo made headlines around the world during the first Wicked press tour last year by holding hands and touching fingers in a number of interviews.
The pair have done the same again this year during the Wicked: For Good rounds, with Grande addressing their tactile behaviour in a new interview with Amy Poehler.
The comedian’s question left the popstar in fits of laughter, though, after Poehler awkwardly started off with, “It’s really sweet how you touch each other”.
Watch the video above.
Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo have made headlines with their tactile antics during Wicked’s press tours. (Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)
The Good Hang podcast host then clarified through laughter, “in a non-sexual way”.
“You like to hold each other’s hands and be there,” Poehler continued.
“It’s very sweet. You like to do that with people, am I wrong?”
Grande agreed, before explaining where it comes from.
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Grande has now explained where the super-affectionate behaviour comes from on her part. (YouTube/GoodHang)Comedian Amy Poehler left the actress-singer in fits of laughter by asking about it on her podcast. (YouTube/GoodHang)
“I channel a lot of energy through my hands. I’m always holding a hand. I’m always squeezing something. I’m always reaching for something.”
One particular Wicked interview showed Grande grabbing and stroking her co-star’s finger as Erivo spoke about an emotional topic.
“I like to channel support and energy or whatever,” Grande told Poehler.
“I didn’t even notice that it was a thing about me until that thing happened.”
“I channel a lot of energy through my hands. I’m always holding a hand,” Grande said. (Getty)“I’m always squeezing something. I’m always reaching for something.” (Getty Images for Critics Choice)
The viral moment she’s referring to took place when Out journalist Tracy Gilchrist asked Erivo, who openly identifies as queer and bisexual, how she felt about the LGBTQI community “holding space” for the Wicked song Defying Gravity and “and feeling power in that”.
The question made Erivo who plays Elphaba, also known as the wicked witch, emotional.
Grande, who plays Elphaba’s best friend Glinda (the good witch), was by her side and said she felt the need to comfort her co-star.
The moment Grande held and gently tapped Erivo’s finger during an interview drew particular attendion. (YouTube/AdvocateChannel)
“I didn’t know what the f— was going on,” Grande told Poehler.
“I knew it was tender and beautiful, and I just wanted to be supportive… It felt sweet. It felt beautiful.”
When it looked like Erivo was “about to cry again”, Grande recalled she thought, ‘I’m gonna grab this [finger] ’cause I think you might need something.'”
In the interview video, Grande is seen reaching across to hold Erivo’s pointer finger, gently tapping it with her own.
“I don’t know what the tapping was about, but that happened,” the popstar-turned-actress told Poehler.
Grande and Erivo became fast friends after being cast in the movie version of the popular Broadway musical.
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What the star-studded cast of Wicked looks like in real life
They then spent a number of years together with production of the two movies done back-to-back – in which time director Jon M Chu welcomed three children – before travelling the world for two rounds of promotion and awards season campaigns across two years.
Grande says the pair have worked to maintain their friendship after filming wrapped and continue to check in with one another.
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