If you have Instagram or Tiktok, it is likely that you have encountered a meme featuring Cynthia Erivo; specifically, a meme poking fun at her and Ariana Grande’s friendship. These jokes originate from their seemingly codependent relationship exhibited in interviews. Recently, a joke Instagram post claimed that the pair was in a “non-demi-curious semi-binary relationship.” I investigated the origins of these rumors and determined the extent to which they are true.
Erivo and Grande’s friendship is most criticized because of how their personalities change when around each other. Fans have observed that Grande appears to infantilize herself in Wicked interviews with Erivo. In a particular interview during a press tour, Grande had her hand shaken out of excitement by a male journalist. She then hung her hand and pouted, prompting Erivo to caress it and glare at the interviewer. While some fans defended the pair and reasoned that the journalist was crossing physical boundaries, other fans found the interaction weird and dramatic because of Grande’s reaction; she appeared as though she was deeply disturbed by this seemingly minor incident. This video went viral on social media and inspired an abundance of memes.
Another aspect of their friendship that has been deemed “co-dependent” by social media is Erivo’s overprotective behavior towards Grande. In several photos and Wicked interviews with fans, Erivo can be seen observing fan interactions with Grande in a protective manner and even scowling at innocent people who ask for a hug or picture. This behavior has been noted by several news outlets and is where the Instagram post about a “non-demi-curious semi-binary relationship” originated from.
What do you think about their friendship? Is it chronically online to care about the friendship of two adult woman, or are the rumors and memes justified?
