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Ariana Grande Teases Her Oscars 2025 Dress Is Wickedly Delightful (Exclusive)
Ariana Grande's relationship with Cynthia Erivo is definitely not unlimited.
Fans enamored by the Wicked costars' chemistry on and offscreen led to speculations about the nature of their relationship and an onslaught of fanfiction. Now, the "we can't be friends" singer is sharing insight into the rumors surrounding their close bond.
As Ariana explained to The Hollywood Reporter in an interview published Feb. 11, "People think we're secretly married."
In fact, she revealed that she stumbled upon "Gelfie stuff"—fan-made content about the sapphic pairing of their characters Elphaba and Glinda—which was more risqué than she imagined.
"I wish I could unsee some things," Ariana—who began dating costar Ethan Slater in 2023—admitted. "I mean, wow, I had a feeling, but I didn't know it would be on this scale or this graphic."
Despite the speculations surrounding her and Cynthia's relationships, the Victorious alum is more focused on enjoying their friendship.
"To work with someone who is just absolutely in their own league as a talent in the world—there's no one like her," Ariana said on Penn Badgley's podcast Podcrushed last June. "To just feel like we somehow speak the same language and somehow we're destined to do this together and to feel safe every single day together and hold space."
"We both have similar but different processes, similar but different needs, we're both opposite and the same," she continued, "to have that—the love that we have and trust that we have and deep love that we have for each other is—I think it all kind of happened the way it did because of that and because we were supposed to be in each other's lives, I really do."
Getty Images for Critics Choice
Cynthia—who is dating Lena Waithe—and Ariana's friendship even set the tone for The Wizard of Oz prequel, according to costar Marissa Bode.
"They have such a strong bond that I admire so much in the movie," the actress, who plays Elphaba's little sister Nessa Rose, told E! News in November. "These young girls are just figuring themselves out and translating into who they are as people—having a strong and loving bond to one another. It's really cool to see and it's really special."
Indeed, their friendship was essential for telling Elphaba and Glinda's story.
Jay L. Clendenin/Shutterstock for AFI
"The crux of this particular piece is the relationship," Cynthia told E! at the time. "If we couldn't be there for each other as Cynthia and Ari, then how could we possibly be there for the characters Elphaba and Glinda?"
"I think that there's something to be said for being able to make the space for a person who is going to share all that time with you," the 38-year-old continued. "It allows for the experience of making something to be 100,000 times more pleasurable than it could be if you don't. It serves us both to be that way for each other."
Read on to see all of Cynthia and Ariana's Wicked-inspired fashion. After all, pink goes good with green.
(E! News and Universal Pictures are part of the NBCUniversal family.)
Kevin Winter/Getty Images
Coming Attractions
Presenting together at the 2024 Oscars in March, Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande were already teasing what was in store from the first installment of Wicked, coming to theaters Nov. 22.
Erivo, who plays green-hued "bad" witch Elphaba, looked ready for both the red carpet and battle in leather Louis Vuitton with reptilian ruffles down the back. And Grande, who costars as "good" witch Glinda, channeled old Hollywood glam in a powder-pink Giambattista Valli Haute Couture column gown magically accented with enough fabric to provide a peplum, a stole, a bustle and a train all at once.
David Becker/WireImage
They Know About Popular
The Wicked train chugged into CinemaCon in April with Grande all aboard in a white and pink Oscar de la Renta minidress that resembled a blooming flower, while Erivo sported a green and silver Versace ensemble, including fierce thigh-high satin boots.
Not the colors of dear old Shiz, but she has an open invitation to play Quidditch for Slytherin.
JONATHAN NACKSTRAND/AFP via Getty Images
Très Chic
Gold for best dressed went to team Wicked at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where the costars were spotted at multiple events.
But first, they kicked off the Games at the July 26 Opening Ceremony, Erivo in a strapless green Louis Vuitton gown with a gravity-defying silhouette and Grande in a drop-waist powder-pink Thom Browne dress that would've made Audrey Hepburn proud.
Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for Academy Museum of Motion Pictures
Where Troubles Melt Like Lemon Drops
Erivo, who also performed "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" at the event, looked wickedly good in a glittering emerald gown by Naeem Khan at the 2024 Academy Museum of Motion Pictures 4th Annual Gala on Oct. 19.
Another popular choice: Grande's leather-trimmed polka dot ball gown courtesy of Balmain.
Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Universal Pictures
Coat of Many Colors
Erivo accessorized her T-shirt and cropped jeans with bright-green pumps and a patterned Louis Vuitton coat at an Oct. 28 screening of Wicked at the DGA Theater in New York.
Grande looked ready for her first day of witch university in a cream-colored button-down vest and matching skirt by Atelier Versace.
Noam Galai/Getty Images for WSJ. Magazine Innovators Awards
Peas in a Pod
It's unclear if Grande floated to the WSJ. Magazine 2024 Innovator Awards inside a magical bubble, but her delicately embroidered white Vivienne Westwood gown was fit for such a journey.
Meanwhile, Erivo's Erdem dress—gray pinstripes overlaid with embellished green silk—was Land of Oz meets Wall Street.
Saverio Marfia/Getty Images
Good Witch of the North
Grande went full Glinda at the Nov. 3 Australian premiere of Wicked in a pink Vivienne Westwood ball gown.
Don Arnold/WireImage
Far From Basic
Erivo leaned into Elphaba's wicked future at the premiere in a black Louis Vuitton strapless gown, accessorized with a massive lion's head choker and another bedazzled green manicure.
"I love this outfit so much because it speaks to my character," the British actress told Vogue Australia before heading to the red carpet (or, in this case, yellow brick road). "It reminds me of wings and defying gravity."
Brendon Thorne/Getty Images
Every Look There Is or Was
Erivo cast yet another spell at the Nov. 5 Wicked photocall in Australia, this time in an emerald and black Marc Jacobs blouse paired with a black embroidered skirt.
And for her latest trick: Dividing the eye's attention between her dainty fascinator and the towering multistrap Mary Jane platforms that added at least 6 inches to her 5-foot-1 frame.
Don Arnold/WireImage
Ways to Flirt and Flounce
Grande was the gift in bow-trimmed Bode at the Australian photo call.
Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic
Changed for Good
Louis Vuitton didn't hold back on the green for Erivo and Thom Browne provided Grande's dainty gingham look at the Los Angeles premiere of Wicked on Nov. 9.
XNY/Star Max/GC Images
Because I Knew You
Leaning into Elphaba's eventual preferred color, Erivo wore Dior to a Nov. 14 Wicked screening hosted by Vogue at New York's Museum of Modern Art, while Grande turned up the pink meter from pastel to hot in Louis Vuitton.
Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images
The Chance to Fly
Across the pond for Wicked's London premiere on Nov. 18, Grande was cheery as a buttercup in a dreamy Ralph Lauren gown and Erivo hit the sweet spot where punk meets princess courtesy of Schiaparelli.
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