Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo’s recent press tour for the highly anticipated Wicked movie adaptation has sparked a wide range of reactions from fans. A particular clip from their appearance on Pink News has gone viral on social media, with some viewers questioning the promotional approach.
In the clip, Erivo, 37, became visibly emotional while discussing her portrayal of Elphaba, specifically the challenges of wearing the character’s signature green makeup. The Tony Award-winning actress shared that removing the makeup every day ultimately helped her feel more comfortable in her own skin. “I loved playing Elphaba, but every time I took the makeup off, I loved who I was even more,” she said, her voice cracking with emotion.
Grande, who stars as Glinda in the film, can be seen holding Erivo’s hand in solidarity as she praises her co-star. The Disney alum also appeared to fight back tears, creating a deeply emotional moment between the two. This raw exchange, however, has divided fans. Some have criticized the tone of the press tour, with one Twitter user joking that it felt more like an “emotional support group” than a promotional event. Others have expressed that the emotional moments made them less inclined to see the film, with some saying the interview turned them off entirely.
In the interview, Erivo powerfully declared, “I am a person and I feel, and I have feelings, and I can share them.” Grande supported her, encouraging her to cry if needed: “And if you need to cry right now, you cry.” Despite the touching display of camaraderie, many fans were unimpressed. One user on social media commented, “I’m old enough to remember when press junkets made you want to go see the film,” while others shared similar sentiments, expressing a decline in interest after watching the emotional exchange.
Despite the mixed reactions, Wicked remains one of the most anticipated movie releases of the year, with many still eager to see the Broadway classic brought to the big screen.
