Cynthia Erivo may be giving drag queens the world over a new version of “Defying Gravity” to incorporate into their shows, but it’s co-star Ariana Grande who wants us all to think twice about her Wicked character’s sexuality.
The two stars embarked on an inescapable full-court press tour ahead of the film’s blockbuster opening last weekend, and their nonstop media appearances have made for some notable moments, including one interview with U.K. LGBTQ+ outlet Gay Times.
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In the clip, posted November 22, the interviewer asks Grande and Erivo about the queer allegories in the new film, based on the long-running Broadway musical, which in turn is based on gay author Gregory Maguire’s 1995 novel about The Wizard of Oz’s Wicked Witch of the West.
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Grande, who plays Glinda in the film, described Oz as “a celebration of uniqueness.”
“Everyone is just so beautifully queer,” she added.
Erivo, who stars as the green-skinned Elphaba, agreed that the film is a celebration of people who feel othered. “I do think that both Glinda and Elphaba are just different. Both of them are almost, like, other, you know?” she said.
Both actresses were fully onboard with fans who “ship” their characters.
“It’s a relationship,” Erivo insisted. “It is true love, which is probably why people are shipping it, you know, because what they build with each other is an unbreakable bond and love.”
“And trust and truth and just such a safe space for one another,” Grande added. “Which is what all relationships should be.”
The “Thank You, Next” singer then took it a step further. “So, you know, whether it’s romantic or platonic — Glinda might be a little in the closet — but if there were a time, you never know. Give it a little more time,” she said.
Grande isn’t the only one who thinks Glinda might be “a little in the closet.” After E! News picked up the quote and posted it on Instagram, Kristin Chenoweth, who originated the role on Broadway in 2003, chimed in.
