If you’ve watched the two actors together while promoting Wicked, you might have noticed that they’re constantly touching. Some fans have noticed the odd behavior and speculated on why, but here’s the reason Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo like to touch on another.
On Amy Poehler’s Good Hang podcast on Tuesday, the actor was asked bluntly why she and her co-star in Wicked “like to touch each other”.
Ariana Grande didn’t hesitate, explaining that she “channel[s] a lot of energy through [her] hands.”
The singer, 32, pointed out that she is “always holding a hand, always squeezing something” or “always reaching for something”, and it usually ends up being whoever is around her.
Grande told listeners of the podcast that she and Erivo, 38, have “worked hard to maintain” the close bond they developed playing Glinda and Elphaba, respectively. “There’s a lot of time that passes between wrapping the film and the press tour happening,” she continued to explain, noting that they do “check-ins here and there when you can.”
“We’re so busy but we do our best to stay connected in that way and to take care of each other. Let’s all take care of each other so we can honor the project as much as humanly possible,” she continued.
When it comes to that viral moment where Grande reached out for Erivo’s finger, the singer admitted, “I didn’t even notice that was a thing about me until that thing happened.”
“I didn’t know what the f**k was going on. I knew it was tender and beautiful, and I just wanted to be supportive… It was sweet. It felt beautiful.”
Erivo herself has spoken about this and has shown nothing but her support and love for Grande. “Ari needs contact when there’s emotion. She needs to be close, so I just be there with her for a second.”
The TikTok highlighted a few instances where the two have reached out to one another during interviews. It’s a heartwarming and wholesome thing.
For more information on your favorite celebrities and actors, keep checking back here. Fans can watch Wicked now on Prime Video. Wicked: For Good, the second part of the movie, is releasing in theaters on November 21.