Jon M. Chu Supports Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo’s Genuine Friendship Amid Criticism
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Jon M. Chu, director of Wicked: For Good, has expressed his displeasure with ongoing criticisms of the friendship between stars Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo during the press tour for the musical films.
During a recent screening and Q&A session for Wicked: For Good at the American Cinematheque on December 1, Chu defended his leading ladies against the backlash they have faced for openly sharing their friendship. “For us to be at a time when you can have these two amazing women emerge from their shells to share love and friendship and the importance of that, unabashedly, no cynicism; to be able to share that vulnerability and wounds with the world, knowing people are going to come out with their knives, shame on people who put that down,” he said in a fan-recorded clip. “These girls are giving us everything; it is why people around the world are drawn to it. It’s why they love it, and they’re sharing a real friendship that happened on set that I got to be a part of, and we should honor that with everything that we have.”
Grande and Erivo, both nominated for Oscars for their performances in 2024’s Wicked, have garnered significant attention during their press tour, especially for their emotional reactions and physical closeness. A clip of Grande dramatically holding Erivo’s manicured nail became one of the highlights of their tour, earning the No. 10 spot on Billboard‘s list of the Greatest Pop Star Memes of All Time. The first Wicked film not only secured dual Oscar nominations but also became the highest-grossing musical film adaptation ever, grossing over $750 million globally.
The press tour for Wicked: For Good was less intense than its predecessor, but Grande and Erivo’s bond remained a focal point. Following a series of high-profile appearances, including Grande missing the Brazilian premiere and Erivo defending her at the Singaporean premiere, social media commentary turned particularly harsh, with attacks targeting the women’s appearances and intimate camaraderie. In response, Grande shared a clip from a 2024 interview as a reminder of the dangers of publicly criticizing individuals’ physical appearances.
Despite the negativity online, Wicked: For Good soared at the box office, grossing $223 million during its opening weekend and achieving the highest opening for a Broadway adaptation.
On the Billboard 200, the For Good soundtrack matched its predecessor’s No. 2 peak, with several tracks making it onto the Hot 100. Notable songs include “For Good” (No. 43), “No Good Deed” (No. 56), “As Long As You’re Mine” (No. 91), and “The Girl in the Bubble” (No. 100). Both Erivo and Grande also remain strong contenders for the upcoming 98th Academy Awards next March.
