Ariana Grande Reveals Why She and ‘Wicked’ Costar Cynthia Erivo ‘Like to Touch’ Each Other

Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo became an internet meme after the Grammy winner was seen holding Erivo’s finger during a now-viral interview. Now, the “thank you, next” singer is finally explaining why she and her Wicked costar “like to touch each other.”

“[I] channel a lot of energy through my hands,” Grande, 32, shared during the Tuesday, November 18, episode of Amy Poehler’s Good Hang podcast. “I’m always holding a hand. I’m always squeezing something. I’m always reaching for something.”

“I didn’t even notice that was a thing about me until that thing happened,” she continued.

“I didn’t know what the f**k was going on,” Grande said, referring to the viral moment. “I knew it was tender and beautiful, and I just wanted to be supportive…It was sweet. It felt beautiful.”

According to the Nickelodeon alum, she and Erivo, 38, have “worked hard” to stay connected between films and beyond.

“There’s a lot of time that passes between wrapping the film and then the press tour happening. And it’s a check-in, here and there when you can,” she told Poehler. “We’re both so busy but do our best to stay connected in that way and to take care of each other. Let’s all take care of each other so we can honor the project as much as humanly possible.”