Cynthia Erivo Protects Ariana Grande From Fan at Wicked Premiere

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Cynthia Erivo is Ariana Grande’s friend for good, and will protect her from the bad. 

I was at the Wicked: For Good premiere in Singapore, and it was amazing to see how protective the Tony Award-winning actor was of the singer known for ‘eternal sunshine’! When a fan got a little too close, he instantly stepped in, like a true bodyguard. It was such a sweet and caring moment!

Videos circulating on social media show Ariana Grande walking alongside Cynthia and her Wicked co-star Michelle Yeoh, greeting fans lined up on either side of barricades. While Ariana waved to a fan, another person unexpectedly climbed over the barricade, ran up to her, and put their arm around her, excitedly jumping up and down.

Cynthia immediately intervened and pulled the man away from her friend, Ariana. Security guards quickly escorted him away, and Cynthia and Michelle turned their attention to comforting Ariana. The singer, a Grammy winner, soon calmed down with Cynthia’s arm around her, and the three continued walking down the yellow carpet.

The fan, known as Pyjama Man online, later admitted to attacking Ariana, posting on Instagram on November 13th that he had been released after being arrested.

Considering how close Cynthia and Ariana are, it’s not surprising that the actress who played Harriet was very protective of her friend. Both actresses have often said they felt an instant connection and understood each other immediately.

During a Canva event in April, Cynthia described the amazing connection you feel when collaborating with someone who truly understands you. According to People magazine, she said it’s when someone can anticipate your needs and know exactly what you require, all without you having to ask.

She explained that they could continually discuss and adjust to their changing needs as time passed.

Naturally, Ariana felt just the same. 

Ariana shared with The New York Times last year that a highlight of the experience was feeling supported and having a true friend by her side throughout the entire process. She expressed pride in how well everyone cared for one another.

For more Hollywood besties, keep reading…

Nicole has always loved the films made by her sister-in-law. A few years ago, she got the chance to ask her to recreate some iconic scenes, including a memorable moment from My Best Friend’s Wedding.

Oh my god, you will NOT believe this! So, she was telling this story on the Everything Iconic podcast – it was in May 2024, I was listening so intently! – and she said I basically told Cameron what to do. I was like, ‘Cameron, please, you HAVE to do this for me!’ I made her run towards me from behind a luggage cart, right there at the airport! And the best part? She just… did it! I was practically directing her, telling her what to say as we drove, and she just let me! It was SO generous of her to indulge me like that, honestly. I was living for it!

It’s a good thing Lawrence was available to spend time with Schumer, or they might have missed out on a wonderful friendship! Their connection started when Lawrence emailed Schumer after seeing her 2015 movie, Trainwreck. Lawrence admitted she wrote, ‘I don’t know where to begin, but I have to say it: I’m in love with you.’ That email led to a back-and-forth exchange, eventually moving from emails to text messages.

Their friendship really took off when Schumer casually invited Lawrence to join her and her childhood friends for a trip to the Hamptons. Schumer was surprised when Lawrence accepted, but quickly realized Lawrence was incredibly down-to-earth and easy to get along with. As Schumer described on The Daily Show, Lawrence was just a natural fit with the group and became one of the gang.

Everyone would love a friend who’s successful and established in their community! Jennifer Lopez and Sofia Vergara have been incredibly close ever since they met and instantly connected at the premiere of Man on Fire in 2004. Lopez described it as an immediate and strong connection, saying she loved being around Vergara and that she always made her laugh.

Vergara was also a vocal supporter of Lopez’s performance at President Joe Biden’s inauguration. She messaged Lopez, telling her that as a fellow Bronx native, her performance was truly inspiring and beautiful to watch, according to TopMob News.

Considered the ultimate celebrity friendship, Courteney Cox, Jennifer Aniston, and Lisa Kudrow have remained close since they first bonded while working on the Warner Brothers lot. According to a source, their shared experience filming Friends created a strong foundation for their lasting bond. Just like staying in touch with former colleagues, they prioritize regular get-togethers, from casual happy hours to larger reunions. Because they live relatively close to each other, it’s easy to maintain these traditions—whether it’s attending Courteney’s Sunday dinners or a pool party at Jennifer’s house. The source emphasizes that they feel deeply connected and expect to remain so for years to come.

I’ve been watching Tina and Amy’s incredible friendship since they first met in an improv class way back in 1993, and honestly, it’s always been inspiring! They’re so close, they genuinely feel like family to each other. Amy actually told PopSugar when they were promoting their movie Sisters in 2015 that she and Tina are like ‘chosen sisters.’ She doesn’t have a sister of her own – her only sibling is her brother Greg – and she said getting to experience that kind of bond with Tina has been amazing, like getting the sisterhood she always wanted.

Philipps described meeting Williams on the set of Dawson’s Creek as love at first sight. They instantly connected as friends, bonding over shared activities like drinking wine, smoking cigarettes, and even getting into bar fights. She said that immediate affection has lasted for years. Luckily for fans, we get to see glimpses of their life together – from walking red carpets and coordinating outfits to Williams’ playful hair transformations, like her perfect millennial pink shade.

Drake and Adele, despite only recently considering a collaboration after years of admiring each other’s work, seem to have a strong connection. Adele publicly expressed her desire for an official remix of one of their songs, even going so far as to buy the red coat worn in Drake’s music video. Drake reciprocated, jokingly offering to do anything for Adele, even household chores. Instead of immediately working on music, they spent time together enjoying a meal and a bowling outing, hinting at future collaborations to come.

After receiving great support from other women during her pregnancies, Washington has always made an effort to offer the same to her celebrity friends. She told Entertainment Tonight that she tries to have open and honest conversations, especially with Eva Longoria. Longoria greatly appreciated Washington’s advice when she welcomed her son, Santiago, in 2018, playfully calling Washington “basically my doula.”

After more than two decades since winning an Oscar, the writers of Good Will Hunting have teamed up again for the film The Last Duel. Despite not working together on screen for a while, Matt Damon and Ben Affleck remain close friends. Damon explained to Entertainment Tonight that they’ve known each other for 35 years and grew up together, sharing a passion for acting and filmmaking. He believes this shared obsession during their younger years created a lifelong bond.

The friendship between these two prominent TV personalities began in 1976 while they worked at a Baltimore station. Though Oprah Winfrey was an anchor and Gayle King a production assistant, and they didn’t usually mix socially due to the typical newsroom structure, a snowstorm brought them together. Oprah invited Gayle, who earned $12,000 a year as a PA, to stay with her. The next day, they went shopping at the mall, and a lasting friendship blossomed over sweaters at Casual Corner.

While your dates probably don’t involve Wimbledon finals or palace visits, Meghan Markle and a certain tennis star actually connected in a very relatable way. They first met at a 2014 Super Bowl event and instantly bonded. As Meghan wrote on her now-closed website, The Tig, they spent the time taking pictures, laughing during a flag football game, and chatting about everyday things – not tennis or acting, but typical ‘girly stuff’.

Even though Game of Thrones is over, the close bond between Sophie Turner and Maisie Williams remains strong. Williams, who was a bridesmaid at Turner’s wedding to Joe Jonas in 2019, playfully suggests the show’s greatest achievement wasn’t its 12 Emmy awards. She told TopMob News at the final season premiere, “It felt like the whole show existed just to help me find a best friend!” She quickly added that the experience was truly incredible, and having such a supportive friend during the show’s intense run was a blessing.

Everyone’s heart likely warmed watching Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively’s adorable reaction when their oldest daughter, James, recognized Taylor Swift’s song “Gorgeous” at a concert. Lively jokingly called the viral video embarrassing, explaining to Robin Roberts on Good Morning America that it captured their unfiltered pride as stage parents. But their genuine friendship – built on years of celebrating holidays at Swift’s Rhode Island home, cozy get-togethers in New York, and even appearances in Swift’s music videos – is something truly special and worth cherishing.

Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Aniston have a friendship that goes back decades, starting with a small role Witherspoon had on the popular NBC show before they co-starred in the Apple TV+ series, The Morning Show. Witherspoon, who had recently given birth to her daughter Ava, remembers being 23 and breastfeeding on set in 2000. She recalls Aniston repeatedly asking about her baby, which felt strange at the time. Witherspoon would explain she was pumping breast milk, and Aniston was incredibly kind and supportive. They’ve been close friends ever since that experience.

Their unlikely friendship blossomed at Justin Bieber’s Comedy Central Roast in 2015, and was further cemented by their VH1 cooking show, Martha & Snoop’s Potluck Dinner Party. Snoop Dogg explained to LA Weekly that Martha Stewart, despite being different from people he usually hangs out with, feels surprisingly familiar. He appreciates that she’s genuine and relatable, despite coming from a different generation. He described their connection as feeling like a strong, comfortable bond – ‘like holy matrimony, not holy macaroni,’ – because she always understands his perspective and doesn’t shock him with her opinions.

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2025-11-13 18:18