Ariana Grande has penned an emotional goodbye to her beloved character, Glinda The Good Witch, following the cinematic release of the second and final instalment of the Wicked story.
A Sweet Farewell to a Magical Role
Marking the end of an era, the singer and actress took to social media to share a heartfelt tribute alongside a collection of intimate behind-the-scenes photographs. The movie, Wicked: For Good, officially landed in cinemas across the UK on November 21.
In her poignant post, Grande wrote, 'thank you, my sweet Glinda, for everything. i will love you always ... Wicked For Good is out now.' The candid snaps offered fans a rare glimpse into the making of the film, from the intricate creation of Glinda's opulent pink gown to various moments captured on the magical set itself.
A Press Tour Plagued by Challenges
Unfortunately, the celebrations for the film's release have been marred by a series of unfortunate events. Grande revealed on Thursday that she has tested positive for Covid-19, sharing a still from her recent appearance on The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon with the caption, 'moments before Covid.'
This diagnosis forced her to withdraw from a pre-taped joint appearance with her co-star Cynthia Erivo on The Kelly Clarkson Show, with Erivo proceeding solo. The pop star will also miss several upcoming Q&A sessions about the film. This is not the first time Covid has disrupted the Wicked production, as both stars previously tested positive at different points during the filming of the first movie.
The press tour has been anything but smooth. Prior to her Covid diagnosis, Grande skipped press interviews at the New York premiere of For Good in a show of solidarity with Erivo, who had lost her voice.
The tour was also rocked by a serious security incident at the Singapore celebrations. A man, identified as online prankster Johnson Wen, stormed the red carpet barricades and rushed towards Grande, wrapping an arm around her and leaving the star visibly shaken. In a swift act of bravery, Cynthia Erivo immediately intervened, stepping between the intruder and her co-star before security tackled him. Wen was subsequently sentenced to nine days in jail for the act.
Moving Forward as a United Front
Despite the turmoil, the two leads have presented a united front. At a recent Screen Actors Guild screening in Los Angeles, Erivo spoke about how the film helped them 'feel safe' and alluded to the previous week's ordeal. She stated, 'I mean, f**k, even this last week. Let's be honest, for f**k's sakes, we've had to really deal with some stuff, and this movie has allowed us to really grow as people, as friends, as sisters, as artists, as actresses.'
As the curtain falls on this chapter of the Wicked saga, Ariana Grande's tribute to Glinda marks the end of a significant role for the star, one that was realised amidst a production filled with both magic and adversity.
