Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo opened up about Glinda and Elphaba’s sexualities in Wicked and their characters’ relationship.
In an interview with U.K. publication Gay Times, the actresses were asked for their thoughts about fans romantically rooting for their characters.
“I think Elphie, she goes wherever the wind goes,” Erivo said. “I think she loves Glinda. I think she loves love. And I don’t think there’s anything wrong with celebrating the deep connection that both of them have. They do have a real relationship. It is true love, which is probably why people are shipping it, you know? Because what they build with each other is an unbreakable bond and love.”
Grande echoed her co-star’s sentiment, adding that they have “trust and truth.”
She continued, “Just such a safe space for one another, which is what all relationships should be, whether it’s romantic or platonic. Glinda might be a little in the closet. You never know. Give it a little more time. I mean, it is just a true love, and I think that transcends sexuality. It’s just kind of a deep safety within each other. And that’s why [fans] probably ship it.”
The Eternal Sunshine singer isn’t the only one to think that. Kristin Chenoweth, who portrayed the good witch in Wicked on Broadway opposite Idina Menzel’s Elphaba, agreed. “I thought so too way back when,” she commented on an E! News Instagram post of Grande saying she felt Glinda was “a little in the closet.”
Elsewhere in the Gay Times interview, the Grammy winner and Oscar nominee also reflected on the queerness of Wicked and the land of Oz, in general.
“Every day in the Emerald City is a Pride parade, right?” Grande said. “Even the chickens… those chickens are gay.”
She also noted that Peter Dinklage’s Dr. Dillamond, a goat history professor at Shiz University, is a “gay icon,” with his Bode cardigan and custom tea device.
Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero, Michelle Yeoh as Madame Morrible, Jeff Goldblum as the Wizard, Bowen Yang as Pfannee, Marissa Bode as Nessarose, Keala Settle as Miss Coddle and Ethan Slater as Boq round out the rest of director Jon M. Chu’s ensemble cast.
Wicked part one is in theaters now.
