It’s hard to believe it is a year since Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande went viral with their bizarre ‘holding space’ moment.
In an iconic interview which left the showbiz world baffled the pair were discussing Wicked: Part One’s closing number, Defying Gravity, with journalist Tracy E. Gilchrist for Out Magazine.
Tracy claimed fans were ‘taking the lyrics’ and ‘really holding space with that’ and her words caused an intense emotional reaction in Cynthia who put a hand over her chest while looking shocked and replied: ‘I didn’t know that was happening. That’s really powerful. That’s what I wanted.’
Offering her support to her co-star, Ariana then grabbed Cynthia’s finger, later admitting she had ‘no idea what the f*** was going on’.
The two women were inseparable during the run up to the film’s release. They appeared on every talk show, often in tears, and baffled fans with their over the top behaviour.
However this time around there seems to have been a noticeable lack of Wicked mania.
And with less than a month until the release of Part Two on November 21, where are Ariana and Cynthia and their cringeworthy press tour?
Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande were inseparable during the run up to the film’s release last year, however this time around their seems to be a real lack of Wicked mania
After taking the world by storm with Defying Gravity, it seems Cynthia is making moves to distance herself from being defined by the Wicked Witch of the West (pictured in February)
After taking the world by storm with Defying Gravity, it seems Cynthia is making moves to distance herself from being defined by the Wicked Witch of the West.
Posing for Harper’s BAZAAR’s November issue, Cynthia spoke about parting ways with her character, she said: ‘Elphaba will be part of my life forever, but we need separation.
‘We’re not one and the same anymore, but we can be friends.’
Similarly the star is also busy promoting her new book Simply More: A Book for Anyone who Has Been Told They’re Too Much.
She has emphasised that the book, due for release a day before on the film on November 20, is not a memoir but rather teachable moments from her life.
Last year the film somewhat got lost beneath the pair’s viral interviews and constant tears.
Social media was awash with memes of the pair with the cast being caught up in a series of embarrassing blunders and gaffes.
Ariana and Cynthia weren’t afraid to let their emotions out during the press junkets, often bursting into tears during the lighthearted chats.
In the iconic ‘holding space’ interview Cynthia put a hand over her chest while looking shocked and replied: ‘I didn’t know that was happening. That’s really powerful. That’s what I wanted’ as Ariana supportively held her finger
Cynthia recently said in an interview about parting ways with her character, she said: ‘Elphaba will be part of my life forever, but we need separation’ (pictured performing at the Oscars)
During an interview with Jake’s Takes, host Jake Hamilton referenced their duet For Good as he asked: ‘In what ways has the person sitting next to you changed you for good?’
The pair instantly burst into hysterical tears, with Cynthia responding: ‘When we first started, each of us was missing a little chunk, and I think we’ve been able to see in each other a bit of a reflection, and so, I think I got a bit of her softness.’
Ariana, so consumed with emotion that she could barely speak, managed to choke out: ‘Her strength.’
The pair were pulled up on their outbursts during an interview on the Heart Breakfast show, with host Amanda Holden telling Cynthia: ‘Every interview I’ve read Cynthia of you and Ariana, it just says that you end up in tears all the time.’
Cynthia responded: ‘We do! And I think it’s because people have come in with such energy and they come in, their responses, their emotional responses come into the room with us.
‘It’s the first time we’ve been able to talk about it, so we’re both reliving and rehashing all the things we’ve been through and the journey we’ve been on.
‘We can’t help it, we get very emotional about it.’
In another clip with Pink News after the interviewer confessed it was her first press junket, Cynthia and Ariana gushed: ‘You are such a gift,’ ‘You brought such light into the room.’
Holding hands once again, Cynthia added: ‘We needed you to come in’ as Ariana continued: ‘We love you, we appreciate you.’
In other red carpet clips the pair were never far from each others side, fixing each others hair and outfits.
Last year the pair wowed with their show-stopping pink and green gowns on red carpets all over the globe (pictured at the Los Angeles premiere last November)
This year’s run of premieres got off to a rocky start on Tuesday evening after Ariana failed to attend due to flight issues
Cynthia’s look at the Brazil premiere was a departure from the array of Elphaba inspired gowns she wore last year as she showcased her incredible abs in a grey cropped tabard top and skirt
A quick search on TikTok and it is awash with compilations of viral moments, yet so far this year the pair have yet to do an interview together.
The pair even joked that their relationship was all a front during their speech on collaboration at The National Board of Review Gala back in January.
Ariana teased: ‘It is being so good at acting that no one ever finds out how much we f*****g loathe each other.’
As the audience laughed, Cynthia added: ‘Now that’s collaboration. It’s true, we fooled you.’
Last month Cynthia appeared as a guest mentor on Strictly Come Dancing for Movie Week. However the star didn’t perform ahead of the upcoming film.
Meanwhile Ariana took to her Instagram to mark the start of Wicked month as she penned: ‘happy wicked month @wickedmovie ♡ 20 days’.
She also shared a snap of her and Cynthia’s matching hand tattoos that read ‘For Good’.
And it seems even fans are feeling the Wicked shaped hole in their lives.
Taking to TikTok in September, one user asked ‘Where is the Wicked press tour part two? I am ravenous.
‘I am starving for questions to be asked and they look at each other and they giggle and they take a two second pause and they answer the question flawlessly, it has nothing to do with what the question was but you watch and you are like “That’s a masterpiece”.
‘I am ravenous for the finger holding, I never found it funny, I was like “that’s sisterhood”.’
Meanwhile Ariana took to her Instagram to mark the start of Wicked month with a snap of her and Cynthia’s matching hand tattoos that read ‘For Good’
Taking to TikTok in September, one user asked ‘Where is the Wicked press tour part two? I am ravenous’
Others in the comments also seemed concerned as they asked: ‘WHERE ARE OUR GIRLS’; ‘You are so right. It’s time’; ‘Are they even doing it this year??? Its next month’
Others in the comments also seemed concerned as they asked: ‘WHERE ARE OUR GIRLS’; ‘You are so right. It’s time’; ‘Are they even doing it this year??? Its next month’.
‘Literally last year they were in JANUARY award shows. Where are our girls’
One suggested: ‘Idk everyone bullied them pretty hard last press tour, I wouldn’t blame them for doing the bare minimum this cycle’.
Others suggested it was maybe too early at the time that TikTok was posted, but now on November 5 it seems Wicked mania is still not in full force.
Similarly there appears to have been little chatter of Wicked: One Wonderful Night, a two hour concert feature which is set to be released on November 6.
Including songs from the first and second films, the show is set to air on NBC and will be available to watch in the UK on NOW and Sky.
Last year the pair wowed with their show-stopping pink and green gowns on red carpets all over the globe.
But this year’s run of premieres got off to a rocky start on Tuesday evening after Ariana failed to attend.
With the cast descending on Brazil for the first stop on their world premiere tour, Ariana was forced to miss the event due to flight issues.
Taking to Instagram to share her disappointment, she wrote: ‘Brazil, I can’t believe this is happening and I am beyond devastated to be sending this message.
‘A few hours ago, my team and I had to deplane our flight, as they had to do maintenance on the plane due to a safety issue and it will not be taking off until 1 a.m. tomorrow.’
She explained all other avenues were exhausted and they were able to make it work.
Last year’s premieres also saw Ariana and Ethan Slater officially debut their romance after finding love on the set of Wicked (pictured at the LA premiere)
However there are now mounting rumours that the couple are heading towards a split, perhaps suggesting why Ariana is keen to avoid press (pictured at the New York premiere)
And while the others beamed at the premiere together, Cynthia’s look was a great departure from the array of Elphaba inspired gowns she wore last year.
Leaving any nods to her green witch character behind, the star instead showcased her incredible abs in a dark grey cropped tabard top and skirt.
Last year’s premieres also saw Ariana and Ethan Slater officially debut their romance after finding love on the set of Wicked.
When news of their romance broke in July 2023, the Thank U, Next songstress had just split from her husband Dalton Gomez, while Ethan was still married to his high school sweetheart Lilly Jay with whom he shared a then one-year-old son.
However there are now mounting rumours that the couple are heading towards a split, perhaps suggesting why Ariana is keen to avoid press.
An insider told Daily Mail last month: ‘Ariana and Ethan have been on and off for most of this year.
‘He chose not to attend the MTV VMAs with her because they’d had an argument just days before. But they made up soon after. They’ve both been running hot and cold with each other.’
The source spilled, ‘What they have going is more than a little toxic but they’re keeping it together for now.
‘At least until after Wicked: For Good opens. After that it’s doubtful they’ll stay together. The relationship is unhealthy for both.’
It was added, ‘At one time they discussed marriage but that is no longer on the table. They fell head over heels in love when they first hooked up. But those days are over.’
While Ariana has taken former boyfriends, including Pete Davidson and the late Mac Miller, to the VMAs before, this year she was only accompanied by her family.
Her and Ethan’s most recent public appearance together was in late April when the father-of-one joined the singer at a preview of Little Shop of Horrors.
That was also marked the last time Ethan was posted on Ariana’s Instagram grid.
