Ariana Grande has publicly shown her support for co-star Cynthia Erivo by endorsing a viral video that condemns a wave of racist and misogynistic online abuse directed at the actress.
Viral Video Calls Out "Misogynoir" in Offensive Memes
The controversy stems from an incident during the Wicked: For Good press tour in Singapore, where Cynthia Erivo was seen protecting Ariana Grande from an overzealous fan who charged at her on the red carpet. In the aftermath, a torrent of offensive memes mocking Erivo spread across social media platforms.
On 28th November 2025, an Instagram user known as The Film Diva posted a video edit highlighting the disturbing trend. In the clip, which has since amassed over 500,000 views, she expressed her discomfort, stating, "I honestly do not find what's funny with all these different memes and videos villainising and making fun of Cynthia Erivo."
She pointed out that many of the videos featured men dressing up as Erivo and criticised the underlying tones of racism and misogyny.
Stars Rally in Support of Cynthia Erivo
Ariana Grande, whose close friendship with Erivo has been a highlight of the Wicked press tours, made her stance clear by liking the viral post. She was joined by other stars, including actress Marissa Bode.
Perhaps the most powerful commentary came from singer SZA, who directly addressed the issue in the video's comments section. She wrote, "No one is too woke ! It’s CLASSIC Misogynoir! NOTHING ELSE !!! can’t believe it’s openly a thing in 2025 .."
SZA further predicted a future reckoning, adding, "everyone’s gonna have cognitive dissonance 2 years later like ‘remember when everyone attacked Cynthia for being black bald and nurturing?… that was crazy’ ..it could jus stop now lol".
A Friendship Forged On and Off Screen
The support from Grande underscores the genuine bond between the two Wicked stars. Their friendship, which includes getting matching tattoos during filming and emotional interviews discussing their connection, has been well-documented throughout the promotional campaigns for both Wicked and Wicked: For Good.
This incident highlights the ugly side of online culture, where a moment of protective friendship has been twisted into a vehicle for racist and sexist abuse. The vocal support from high-profile figures like Grande and SZA brings significant attention to the issue of misogynoir—prejudice that specifically targets Black women.
