Lots of Wicked fans see romantic potential between its two lead characters, Glinda and Elphaba, played by Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo. But who’s the biggest Glinda and Elphaba shipper of them all? None other than Grande herself — and a recent resurfaced red carpet clip proves it.
While speaking to Access Hollywood at the U.K. premiere of Wicked, Grande and Erivo were posed a question about how Grande’s real-world music career might align with her character’s love story.
The interviewer, Evan Ross Katz, brought up Grande’s hit song “the boy is mine,” which is heavily speculated to be about her controversial relationship with fellow Wicked actor Ethan Slater. “Is there any version of that song which was written about Elphaba and Galinda, and their love for Fiyero?” Katz asked.
Related
“Wicked” isn’t just for the gays: it’s by the gays, too, and its latest queer development behind the scenes proves it.
Clearly, “go woke, go broke” doesn’t apply here.
Culture, unfiltered
Our newsletter will bring you the pulse of queer culture, from the tastemakers to the groundbreakers.
Grande and Erivo were both clearly excited at the prospect: “You know what, maybe!” Grande replied. “I mean, it applies.”
That’s when Grande tossed a queer interpretation into the mix. “But is it about Elphaba?” she asked. “We don’t know.”
“That’s a twist. A good twist,” chimed in Erivo.
“Just saying,” Grande added. “Just throwing it out there.”
Fans can’t help but notice it’s not the first time Grande has hinted at her character’s potential queerness. In a separate interview, she famously said that “Glinda might be a little in the closet.” Clearly, when it comes to wanting Elphaba and Glinda to get together — aka, being a “Gelphie” stan — Grande’s at the top of the pack.
and of course ariana gotta give a gay ass answer she got a gelphie monkey rattling in her brain like this pic.twitter.com/AKQMoJ8f2w
— mia (@ivytheworld) December 4, 2024
ariana taking every chance to promote gelphie im ctfu😭
— girl (@xcxcel) December 4, 2024
biggest gelphie shipper out there she can’t go a day without mentioning it to anyone who would listen. like me too girl me too
— 💚 Captain Bench 🩷 (@capns_qrtrs) December 5, 2024
Sign up for the INTO newsletter and get your twice-weekly dose of stories that shape the queer experience, culture, and lifestyle.
