Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo have been fiercely mocked online over a bizarre interaction during Wicked press.
The two women sat down with a reporter for Out.com last week to promote their highly-anticipated movie adaptation of the beloved Broadway musical Wicked.
At one point during the interview, Ariana was seen holding onto one of Cynthia’s fingers – and the intimate moment has now gone viral on X, formerly Twitter.
During the sit-down, journalist Tracy E. Gilchrist told Cynthia that she had seen some people on social media discussing the ‘lyrics of Defying Gravity,’ a song she sings in the film, and ‘feeling power’ from the track.
Cynthia, 37, appeared visually shocked and honored by the revelation, as she replied, ‘I didn’t know that was happening. That’s really powerful. That’s what I wanted.’
As she spoke, Ariana, 31, who also appeared emotional over the comment, reached over and grabbed her costar’s pointer finger in what appeared to be a display of support – and many people poked fun at the exchange online.
‘What was this?’ one person wrote on X alongside a screenshot of Ariana’s hand wrapped around Cynthia’s finger.
‘Is this a sketch comedy show or something?’ asked someone else.
Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo have been fiercely mocked online over a bizarre interaction during Wicked press
The two women sat down with a reporter for Out.com last week to promote their highly-anticipated movie adaptation of the beloved Broadway musical Wicked
Another user added, ‘The finger grab,’ along with a skull emoji.
‘Watching this makes me feel like I’m huffing gasoline, it’s so surreal, like why is Ariana holding her singular finger like that?’ read a fourth tweet.
At one point during the interview, Ariana was seen holding onto one of Cynthia’s fingers – and the intimate moment has now gone viral on X, formerly Twitter
A fifth said, ‘The part that gets me is Ariana just grabbing one of Cynthia’s fingers and holding and shaking it for comfort.
‘Like not even her hand? Just her finger?’
‘Ariana Grande holding Cynthia Erivo’s finger has made me laugh out loud three separate times,’ announced a different person.
Ariana and Cynthia have been traveling the globe together over the last few weeks to promote their roles in the long-awaited flick, which hit theaters on Friday, November 22.
They have participated in a slew of interviews and red carpet events in the lead-up to the film’s release, but have continuously faced scrutiny over their behavior throughout the press.
In particular, many social media users have commented on the fact that the women often break down in tears while discussing the movie.
Many people poked fun at the exchange online
During an appearance on the Heart Breakfast show this week, Cynthia explained why they often become emotional.
‘Every interview I’ve read of you and Ariana, it just says that you end up in tears all the time,’ host Amanda Holden said to Cynthia.
‘We do. And I think it’s because people have come in with such energy and they come in, their responses, their emotional responses come into the room with us, it’s the first time we’ve been able to talk about it, so we’re both reliving and rehashing all the things we’ve been through and the journey we’ve been on,’ Cynthia responded.
‘We can’t help it, we get very emotional about it.’