Why the internet is trolling Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo

The most extra press tour ever

Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo broke the internet harder than a WiFi password during the Wicked: For Good promotional tour. Their emotional moments, protective gestures, and unusual chemistry became impossible to ignore.

The pair’s interviews sparked endless memes, trending hashtags, and divided fan opinions worldwide. What started as a genuine friendship became the internet’s favorite drama to dissect.

The holding space moment that refuses to die

One year later, the infamous “holding space” meme from their Out magazine interview still haunts the internet. When journalist Tracy E. Gilchrist mentioned fans “holding space” for Defying Gravity, Cynthia became emotional while gripping Ariana’s finger intensely.

Ariana held her co-star’s hand as Cynthia teared up, creating the most awkward yet memorable press moment ever. Even Broadway legends recreated it on TikTok because, yes, it’s that iconic.

The necklace moment that made people uncomfortable

During earlier promotional appearances, Cynthia suddenly interrupted conversations to adjust Ariana’s diamond necklace obsessively. She’d twist it around the clasp multiple times while apologizing repeatedly, saying, “Something is not right.”

Fans flooded Reddit threads discussing whether this behavior was sweet or crossing weird boundaries. Twitter had opinions, and they were NOT holding back about the intensity of it all.

Crying, wiping tears, and pure emotional chaos

Fans compiled entire montages of Cynthia and Ariana’s crying sessions throughout the press tour, dubbed “endless emotional spirals.” Ariana was spotted gently wiping Cynthia’s tears during interviews, while Cynthia offered equal vulnerability when praising Ariana’s vocals.

They’d tear up over tiny moments like Grande sharing her full name in film credits. This became the meme soundtrack of their entire campaign, tissues not included.

When overprotectiveness became a whole personality trait

The Singapore premiere incident made Cynthia’s protective nature legendary when she physically pushed away a fan who rushed toward Ariana. Before security could react, Cynthia stepped between them like an unofficial bodyguard named Elphaba.

The internet immediately crowned her as Grande’s personal security detail and created “unhinged bodyguard energy” memes everywhere. This moment solidified their dynamic as the internet’s favorite protective bestie duo.

Reddit couldn’t decide what was cringey anymore

The subreddit community split into two camps: supporters calling their bond sisterly and critics labeling it “cringey best-friend energy.” One Reddit thread asked whether their closeness felt genuine or performative, garnering thousands of heated opinions.

Users debated the famous “holding space” moment relentlessly, with some calling it awkward and others defending their authentic connection. Reddit became the internet’s courthouse for their friendship trial.

The viral moments that defined this era

From aura readings to emotional outbursts, their press tour created more memes than some film campaigns achieve in entire decades. TikTok compilations titled “Cynthia and Ariana’s weird moments” racked up millions of views because the internet couldn’t resist the chaos.

The duo’s dynamic became shorthand for “too much friendship” across Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube comment sections. Whether fake or real, their chemistry broke the algorithm and owned social media feeds completely.

The theatrical press tour nobody asked for

The Wicked: For Good promotional cycle has produced more viral moments than the actual movie marketing team could’ve dreamed of. Every single interview became a theatrical event featuring crying moments, whispered affirmations, and statements about “feeling each other’s energy”.

Nearly every red-carpet photo shows one of them clinging to the other with emotional reactions that sparked entire Reddit threads trying to decode their behavior. Critics noted they’ve “toned it down” compared to last year’s press run, though people were still skeptical about sincerity. 

“Cringey” moments that divided the fanbase

Not everyone appreciated the constant displays of physical affection during interviews. A skeptic said, “Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo have a normal coworker relationship, and the excessive crying and touching is an effort to convince people they have a special bond”. 

Some viewers got so turned off by the interactions that they decided not to see the movie altogether. One commenter mentioned seeing interviews “during which Grande and Erivo looked like they were picking ticks off each other” which “grossed me out”. 

Why we can’t stop watching this chaos unfold

The Ariana and Cynthia saga represents peak entertainment because their chemistry is undeniably genuine while simultaneously feeling performative and theatrical. Every interview becomes a new meme, whether it’s aura readings or tearful pauses, keeping audiences endlessly engaged.

Their friendship showcases intense female bonding in a media landscape that often portrays women as competitors rather than collaborators. By the time Wicked: For Good premiered, the press tour was arguably more memorable than the movie itself. 

Beyond the troll world, Ariana and Cynthia’s close bond showed through their matching “For Good” tattoos ahead of Wicked: For Good.

The takeaway we’re all holding space for

Ariana and Cynthia’s press tour proved that authenticity—or the appearance of it—drives engagement harder than any traditional marketing. The Wicked: For Good campaign generated more conversation through weird moments than polished interviews ever could.

Their friendship, whether you find it heartwarming or cringey, became undeniably iconic and unforgettable. The internet will be holding space for this press tour chaos for years to come.

Away from the Wicked spotlight, Ariana is set to return to acting with American Horror Story season 13, joining Evan Peters and Emma Roberts.

Are you surprised by the online reactions to Ariana and Cynthia? Share your take in the comments.

Read More From This Brand:

• Ariana Grande Speaks Out on Body Comments
• Ariana Grande says ‘Wicked’ helped her rediscover her love for music
• Colman Domingo cast as the Cowardly Lion in Wicked: For Good

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This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.