Ariana Grande has established herself as the number one Gay-linda supporter. That’s included saying that her Wicked character Glinda “might be a little in the closet” and suggesting that her own song “the boy is mine” could refer to a love affair between Glinda and Elphaba.
Now, in a new interview, she’s shouted out the character’s queerness yet again, complete with a hint at more gay Glinda to come in the sequel, Wicked: For Good.
“I think she’s a person who loves so much, and I do think that it goes beyond gender, and I think that’s a common theme in Oz,” Grande told Variety. “I also think that the ways in which she loves Elphaba so much, and that forgiveness and that unconditional love that they share — I think they’re in love with each other.”
“I know, yes, it’s platonic,” she added, cutting herself off. “But we’ll talk about it more in depth in movie two.”
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Fans, naturally, are obsessed with Grande’s support for a queer reading of the story — though they wonder if that last comment about Glinda and Elphaba’s relationship being “platonic” is less her own belief, and more damage control from a higher power. The world may never never know.
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And we thought “Wicked” couldn’t get any gayer.
Clearly, “go woke, go broke” doesn’t apply here.
GELPHIE CANON, THANK YOU EVERYTHING ARIANA GRANDE-BUTERA pic.twitter.com/JeYS9lbSSM
— Chris•tine | a Brazilian tiny lesbian (@alligatortearsq) January 2, 2025
Grande and her co-star Cynthia Erivo also touched on the movie’s political themes, especially in the wake of the presidential election. Grande recalled the people in her life connecting the musical to real-world politics when it first premiered in 2003.
“It’s time for people to say, ‘Oh, how can I be a better ally?’ Because that’s how we’ve always survived,” she continued. “We’ve always been able to survive with those friendships and those allies.”
Erivo agreed that the movie holds powerful political messages. “The thing that keeps coming back to me is how much people need it,” she said. “It gives people the permission to think of themselves as people that can help. It might not be easy, but it isn’t impossible. That’s the sort of thing that permeates.”
Wicked is now available to rent on digital platforms.
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