“There was a strange fascination with us.”

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Cynthia Erivo was asked about her relationship with Ariana Grande in a new interview.

The “Wicked” star said she thinks people rarely see close female friendships.

Grande also commented on their viral moment while doing press for the film.

During the press tour for Wicked and Wicked: For Good, stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande were often spotted side by side at endless press events and red carpets. Several moments they shared on camera during this time went viral, drawing attention to how close they were with frequent physical contact. Some fans even suggested that a romance may be on the horizon, with Grande dating actor Ethan Slater and Erivo dating Lena Waithe.

Erivo addressed the rumors in a new interview with Stylist, reflecting on how female friendships tend to be viewed on the outside.

“I think at first people couldn’t understand how two women could be friends, close, and not lovers,” she said. “We never talked about it much, but there was a strange attraction between the two of us. People thought we were either doing it for the cameras or that we were lovers.”

“I think it’s because there are so few conversations about deep, real, platonic female friendships, even though they exist everywhere. We’re not used to seeing it on camera or in front of people. The relationships that people connect with just make people uncomfortable sometimes. We’re not taught that those relationships are good for us,” the Broadway star continued.

Grande has discussed their relationship in the past, including holding hands on Amy Poehler’s Good Hang Podcast.

“I do that. I send a lot of energy through my hands. That’s why I always hold hands,” she said. “You see, I’m always squeezing something. Sometimes, I’m always reaching for something.”

She added, “Well, I like to pass on support and energy…I didn’t even realize it was about me until that happened.”

In an interview with Out, Grande mentioned how she grabbed Erivo’s finger in a strange moment when they were both a little confused about how to respond.

“Yeah, I didn’t know what was going on,” Grande admitted. “I just wanted to support. I thought, ‘Oh my god.’ And it felt good. It felt beautiful. And it was beautiful.”