Cynthia Erivo, the acclaimed star of the Wicked films, has expressed her strong dislike for fans attempting to recreate a viral moment where her co-star Ariana Grande held her finger.
The Infamous Viral Interview
Speaking to British GQ ahead of the release of the follow-up film Wicked: For Good later this month, the 38-year-old actress addressed the widely shared clip from the press tour for the first film last year. The moment, which spread rapidly across social media, featured Grande, who plays Glinda, saying she was "trying to keep the space as warm as possible" for Erivo's character Elphaba.
"It was such an innocent moment of confusion and human reaction," Erivo explained. She described a scene of comical miscommunication, noting, "I received one thing, Ari received another, and Tracy (the reporter interviewing them) said something but probably meant to say something else, and then took back the thing that she was saying – it was all so confusing, so that all of us were, in the end, confused but moved." Reflecting on the entire episode, she simply concluded, "It was very strange."
Fan Recreations and a Firm Stance
When the conversation turned to fans who now want to recreate that specific finger-holding moment, Erivo's response was unequivocal. "I hate it. I don't want anyone holding my finger," she stated clearly.
A Personal Look into a Difficult Past
The GQ interview covered more than just the film, delving into Erivo's personal life and a painful childhood memory. She revealed that her father told her he never wanted to see her again after an argument over a ticket. Erivo confirmed she has not seen him since and does not possess his phone number or address, knowing very little about his current life.
"I just didn't see it coming. I guess you wouldn't, would you?" she shared. When asked if she desired to see him again to seek answers, Erivo displayed a sense of hard-won closure. "I don't think it serves me, it's his why," she said. "It doesn't change anything. It doesn't mean that we'll have a relationship. And I think I've found the closure I want, my own way. Whatever needed to happen after that moment happened."
Cynthia Erivo will be honoured at the GQ Men of the Year event on November 18 in London. The full, wide-ranging interview is available in the magazine's Men Of The Year issue.
