Ariana Grande’s proven her love for drag time and time again, from guest judging on RuPaul’s Drag Race to shouting out the show’s contestants on social media. And at the London premiere of Wicked, she showed that love again when she spotted a Drag Race winner in the crowd.
As Grande walked through the premiere, she crossed paths with drag superstar Tia Kofi, who won Season 2 of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK vs The World. From afar, Grande started shouting to Kofi: “Oh my god! Tia Kofi! Tia Kofi, I love you so much!” Grande grabbed Kofi’s hand before she was whisked away.
Kofi celebrated the interaction on social media, where fans gushed over how heartwarming the moment was. “I would die if Ari knew who I was. Congratulations Tia,” wrote one commenter on TikTok.
“A crown and Miss Ari’s approval. Life made!” Kofi replied.
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The “Wicked” actor proved once again that he’s always down to clown with fans.
Elsewhere on the red carpet, fellow Wicked star Jonathan Bailey was showing love to two entirely different queens: Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion.
When Bailey was asked for a song that his character Fiyero would love outside the world of Wicked, he quickly replied with Cardi and Megan’s 2023 collab “Bongos.”
“I’m just trying to think of a lyric,” he continued. “I can’t. I can only think of one that’s not appropriate.”
Indeed, the song is chock-full of lyrics that the star of a family-friendly musical probably shouldn’t repeat. Maybe Fiyero could be related to the line, “This ass sit like a stallion,” or even the source of the song’s title, “My backshots sound like bongos.” After seeing Bailey’s legs in short shorts last week, we wouldn’t put it past him.
Cardi herself reposted Bailey’s answer, along with a much-memed video of a woman saying, “Exactly.”
Wicked comes to theaters this Friday, November 22. Check out the official trailer below.
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