Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo address going viral for crying during 'Wicked' press tour

Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, stars of the upcoming musical film Wicked, have addressed the viral reactions to their frequent displays of emotion during the movie's press tour. Grande, who plays Glinda, and Erivo, who portrays Elphaba, spoke candidly about the subject in recent interviews.

The highly anticipated film, set to release in U.S. theaters on November 22, 2024, has been years in the making due to delays caused by COVID-19 production halts and the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike. During an interview with E! News, Grande acknowledged the chatter, saying, “We’ve cried 500 times today. And honestly, this is a PSA. So sorry, guys.” Erivo added, “It is what it is… I mean, there’s nothing that we can do about it.”

Grande went on to say, “If you’re just gonna comment saying how annoying it is, I’ll say it first: I’m annoyed, I’m tired. My tear ducts [are tired].” She also shared that she and Erivo had a “private cry” together in a parking lot, a moment reflecting their close bond after years of working on the project.

Speaking to Entertainment Tonight, Grande further explained, “It’s been, like, three years, people!” She humorously questioned, “Why does emotional availability scare you so?” Erivo emphasized that their tears stem from joy, saying, “We’ve come through a massive, massive thing, and we’ve really stuck together.”

Both stars highlighted the deep emotional connection they’ve formed throughout the film's production, with Grande noting, “The stuff you don’t see is the most special stuff.”