Ariana Grande anticipates that there will be a larger conversation about the sexuality of her Wicked character, Glinda, after the release of the second film later this year.
The actress, 31, delved once again into the topic of Glinda’s sexuality in a new interview with Varietyafter previously being accused of ‘queerbaiting’.
Grande was joined by her co-star Cynthia Erivo, 37, who plays the Wicked Witch of the West Elphaba, and shared that she believes Glinda and Elphaba are “in love with each other,” but that it’s “platonic.”
When asked to clarify her recent comments about Glinda being “a little queer,” Grande shared, “I think she’s a very loving person, and I think she goes beyond gender, and I think that’s a common theme.” in Oz.” ‘
‘I also think that the way she loves Elphaba so much, and that forgiveness and that unconditional love that they share, I think they are in love with each other. I know, yes, it’s platonic…’
The star then added: “But we’ll talk about it in more depth in the second movie.”
Ariana Grande, 31, anticipates there will be a larger conversation about the sexuality of her Wicked character, Glinda, after the release of the second film later this year; seen in 2024
Grande once again delved into the topic of Glinda’s sexuality in an interview with Variety, after her fans previously accused her of ‘queerbaiting’; seen with Cynthia Erivo in a still from Wicked
Elsewhere in the interview, the stars talked about how they ‘looked out for each other’ during their emotional and much-mocked press tour for Jon M. Chu’s $150 million big-screen adaptation of 2003 Broadway musical.
It comes after Grande declared that Glinda ‘might be a little bit in the closet’ during an interview in November.
Grande and Erivo sat down with a UK media outlet gay timesand were asked about fans presenting their characters as a romantic duo.
However, Ariana’s responses sparked backlash from some fans, who accused her of ‘queerbaiting.’
Glinda may be a little reserved. You never know! Give it a little more time,’ he said in the interview.
Grande also said that Oz is a ‘celebration of uniqueness’ and added: ‘everyone is so wonderfully queer and that goes back to the L. Frank Baum books where literally the most commonly used word in the books is “queer.” “‘
The star went on to say that “every day in the Emerald City (the capital of the fictional Land of Oz) there is a Pride parade…even like the chickens, those chickens are gay.”
Elsewhere in the interview he called Doctor Dillamond, played by Peter Dinklage, a “gay icon.”
Grande was accompanied by her co-star Cynthia, who plays the Wicked Witch of the West Elphaba, and shared that she believes Glinda and Elphaba are “in love with each other,” but that it’s “platonic.”
When asked to clarify her recent comments about Glinda being “a little queer,” Grande shared, “I think she’s a very loving person, and I think she goes beyond gender, and I think that’s a common theme.” in Oz.”
‘I think (Glinda and Elphaba) are in love with each other. I know, yes, it’s platonic…’ the star said, and then added: ‘But we’ll talk about it more in depth in the second movie.’
Meanwhile, Erivo said of her green witch: “I think Elphie goes where the wind blows.”
“I think he loves Glinda. I think she loves love. And I don’t think there’s anything wrong with celebrating the deep connection they both have.”
‘They have a relationship. It’s true love, and that’s probably why people ship it, you know? Erivo added. ‘Because what they build between themselves is a bond and an unbreakable love.’
Grande later said of her Good Witch character: “And trust and truth.” A safe space for each other, which is what all relationships should be, whether romantic or platonic.’
“I mean, it’s just true love, and I think that transcends sexuality,” Grande shared.
‘It’s just a kind of deep security within each other. And that’s probably why they send it.
The interviewer then asked if everyone in Oz was LGBTQ+.
“I think so, a little bit,” Cynthia said. “Yes,” Ariana agreed.
In Wicked, Glinda and Elphaba start out as enemies but become friends while at school.
It comes after Grande declared that Glinda “might be a little in the closet” during an interview with the Gay Times in November, leading fans to accuse her of “queerbating.”
He also said that Doctor Dillamond (pictured), voiced by Peter Dinklage in the film, is a “gay icon” and that “every day in the Emerald City is a Pride parade… even like the chickens, those chickens are homosexuals.” ‘
After the interview, fans quickly took to it online, with one writing: “queerbaiting is getting too out of hand.”
‘OH????’ another simply said
Another fan added: ‘Ariana reposts gelphie memes on her story, likes a post about fields of flowers being lesbian colored, says the boy is mine it’s about elphaba and then says glinda is in the closet…’
Another asked: “Why can’t they just be platonic?”
‘Ariana is trying so hard on this boat! First he says Glinda is a bit in the closet and now she’s wearing Elphie’s hat?! Girl’
However, some fans had a different perspective, with one commenting on X: ‘Ariana confirmed that Glinda is a little bit out of the closet!’ We won!’
“As a theater girl, all I can say is that Glinda is definitely in the closet and not a little bit.”
‘Ariana Grande has officially earned my endorsement by outing Glinda as a lesbian, thank you,’ someone else chimed in.
There are romantic plots in the film, as Glinda pursues Prince Fiyero, who is secretly interested in Elphaba, and Boq (played by Grande’s real-life boyfriend Ethan Slater) pines for Glinda, who does not return his affections.
After the interview, fans quickly took to it online, with one writing: “queerbaiting is getting too out of hand.”
Queerbaiting is a marketing technique where creators imply same-sex romance or other LGBTQ+ representation, without actually depicting it.
Another asked: “Why can’t they just be platonic?”
‘OH????’ another simply said.
Another fan added: ‘Ariana reposts gelphie memes on her story, likes a post about flower fields having lesbian colors, says the boy is mine it’s about elphaba and then says glinda is in the closet…’
‘Ariana is trying so hard on this boat! First he says Glinda is a bit in the closet and now she’s wearing Elphie’s hat?! Girl.’
However, some fans had a different perspective, with one commenting on X: ‘Ariana confirmed that Glinda is a little bit out of the closet!’ We won!’
Wicked was released in theaters on November 22, 2024, and the sequel, Wicked: For Good, will be released in theaters on November 21, 2025.
The protagonists also did another interview with CHEERFULwhere they were asked what they hoped LGBTQ audiences would get from Wicked.
‘That you deserve all the good things. That your difference is what makes you special. That your queerness is beautiful. That I love you.’
“Elphaba is just like you and understands what it’s like to be alone and feel different, but that doesn’t make you any less special than you were born to be,” Erivo said.
Speaking about the fantasy world of The Wizard of Oz, Grande added: “Oz is a very strange place and always has been, even in L. Frank Baum’s books. It’s always been strange.
Wicked was released in theaters on November 22, 2024, and the sequel, Wicked: For Good, will be released in theaters on November 21, 2025.
The critically acclaimed, $150 million-budgeted fantasy film has grossed $643.8 million at the global box office since its release.