What Did Cynthia Erivo Say About Ariana Grande?
In recent months, social media users have questioned whether Erivo, 38, influenced Grande's "alarming" slimmer appearance, while others have suggested the opposite due to her own noticeably slimmer frame since filming began. The debate about Grande's "concerning" weight loss, to quote one Reddit user, has unsurprisingly gained traction online, with Erivo recently offering a calm and supportive perspective in relation to ongoing remarks about their appearance…
Speaking to USA Today about the foundation she and the "Boy is Mine" singer, 32, built early in their friendship, Erivo said: "That was right at the beginning. We've had this conversation about people talking about what we look like, and we're able to look at one another and say, 'Just know I see you and everything that you are. Whatever state you're in, you're so beautiful to me.'"
Erivo also mentioned Grande's new darker hair color in the interview, and said that she supported her co-star's transformation wholeheartedly. "I messaged her immediately, 'I love the brown, you look beautiful.' Just messages for each other so that whatever the world says, it doesn't really matter, because the important thing is how we feel about ourselves." Moments like this show how grounding supportive friendships can be when outside commentary becomes intrusive.
Cynthia Erivo Talks About Her Lifelong Experiences With Body Shaming In Her Book, 'Simply More'
Erivo has been vocal about the impact of body shaming throughout her life, sharing her personal experiences in her new book Simply More.
"I've heard it all, every version of what's wrong with me," Erivo writes in the book, which encourages readers to recognize their individuality and self-worth. "And when I fix it, then it's wrong for different reasons… it's hard to protect yourself from that noise."
The Tony winner also reflects on how easy it has become for people to comment on others from behind a screen, adding: "In today's society, there's a degree of ease involved in commenting on others."
"Their looks, what people think might be going on behind the scenes, their health, or how they present themselves…their ease in making remarks is really dangerous for all parties involved," she writes, which echoes a broader understanding that even casual comments about someone's body can have "dangerous" and unintended effects.
Ariana Grande Addresses Body-Shaming Comments Again
The "Thank U, Next" hitmaker has also spoken about how these conversations about her appearance impact her personally. She responded to the intensified focus on her weight at the end of last month by resharing a video from December 2024, in which she discussed her long history of living with unwanted opinions, regardless of whether they're well intended or not.
"Resharing this from last year. As a loving reminder to all," the Sam & Cat alum wrote on Instagram last month. In the resurfaced video, she says: "Even if you go to Thanksgiving dinner and someone's Granny says, 'Oh my god, you look skinnier! What happened?' or 'You look heavier, what happened?' That is something that is uncomfortable and horrible no matter where it's happening."
Her example shows how common – and uncomfortable – body comments can be in everyday life. "There's a comfortability that people have commenting on that that I think is really dangerous. I just don't invite it in anymore, it's not welcome," she explained, adding: "I have work to do, I have a life to live, I have friends to love on, I have so much love and it's not invited. So I don't leave space for it anymore."
She concluded by giving her followers some sound advice: "However you all can protect yourself from that noise, whether it's at a family reunion or online; whether you have to block people, I don't care, if you have to delete the app entirely, you keep yourself safe because no one has the right to say [expletive.]"
Erivo and Grande's comments serve as a reminder that discussions about other people's appearance should be handled with care, especially when they're based on speculation.