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Reality of Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande’s relationship as ‘semi-binary’ quotes surface online
The close friendship between Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo has sparked fresh speculation after a fake social media post claimed the pair are in a “non‑demi-curious semi-binary relationship.”
The rumor dates back to last year’s press tour for their film but has resurfaced with the release of the sequel, Wicked: For Good. Fans pointed to the stars’ frequent hand‑holding and on‑camera closeness as proof of something more intimate.
Ariana, 32, and Cynthia, 38, have been seen ever‑present in each other’s company during red carpet appearances and interviews. Some observers took those affectionate gestures as more than friendly support. Ariana has repeatedly explained that physical contact is just how she expresses energy and support — not a sign of romance.
Now a satirical post on Facebook has reignited rumours, pulling the pair into a wave of misinformation. The post featured a doctored image and a fabricated quote supposedly from Cynthia. That claim quickly spread across social media and other outlets before anyone realized the source was meant as a joke.
The fake post and how it fooled people
The viral post presented a caption claiming Ariana and Cynthia were in a “semi-binary relationship.” It even pretended that Cynthia commented: “It means we are not actually a couple but we are curious about what that could mean and everything.” That quote was entirely fabricated.
The page behind the post openly describes itself as satirical, stating it’s “Serving up satire, nonsense, and gloriously unreliable stories.” But many readers missed the satire label and shared the claim as fact.
As a result, other outlets and social media pages picked up the supposed quotes and re‑published them, giving the hoax even more visibility. Neither Ariana nor Cynthia has made any public statements endorsing the claim.
Ariana’s real explanation for the closeness
In a chat on her podcast with Amy Poehler, Ariana addressed the frequent touching and hand‑holding, clarifying the real reason behind it. Poehler observed: “It’s really sweet how you touch each other. You like to touch in a nonsexual way, in a loving way of supporting each other. You like to hold each other’s hands and be there for each other. It’s very sweet. You like to do that with people. Am I wrong?”
To that, Ariana replied: “I do, I do. I channel a lot of energy through my hands. And so I’m always holding a hand. I’m always, like, squeezing a something, as you’ve learned. I’m always reaching for something sometimes.” She added: “Yeah, I like to channel support and energy... I didn’t even notice that it was a thing about me until that thing happened.”
That explanation aligns with how the pair have behaved publicly — as close friends and collaborators. Meanwhile Ariana is reportedly in a relationship with their co‑star Ethan Slater, and Cynthia identifies as queer and bisexual and is dating writer and comedian Lena Waithe.
The viral post that claimed otherwise was simply satire that got out of control. Readers should always check the original source before believing sensational claims.