Gelphie shippers of the world, rejoice! As most of us already know: true love transcends sexuality. There are so many ways to love someone that have little to do with whether you want to sleep with them or not. That sentiment is at the heart of the love between Glinda and Elphaba inWicked, the movie musical adaptation — starringAriana GrandeandCynthia Erivoas the two aforementioned witches — of the hit Broadway musical juggernaut. But in a new interview, Grande admits that her character Glinda, “might be a little in the closet.”
While speaking with theGay Times—during the never-ending press cycle that is currently hoovering up all the airspace in entertainment newsdom that isn’t going towards oogling Pedro Pascal and Paul Mescal inGladiator II(for the record, we are not complaining either way, or about any of it) — a question regarding the “shipping” of Glinda and Elphaba (when fans want two characters to have a romantic relationship) came up. To which Erivo, a queer woman, and Grande — a vocal ally — responded with thoughtful kindness and nuanced consideration.
“It is Just a True Love, and That Transcends Sexuality.”
“I think Elphie is…she goes wherever the wind goes,” Erivo said of her character’s sexuality. “I think she loves Glinda, I think she loves love. And I don’t think there’s anything wrong with celebrating the deep connection that both of them have. They do have a real relationship.”
“True love,” Grande jumped in to add. “Whether it’s romantic or platonic or, you know — Glinda might be a little in the closet — but if there were a time, maybe. You never know!Give it a little more time.”
The actress/singer went onto add something incredibly poignant and well put:
“It is just a true love, and that transcends sexuality.”
Both actresses completely understand why fans are shipping the two together, regardless of what the characters' “actual” sexuality and relationship might be. “It’s just kind of a deep safety within each other,” Grande said, “and that’s why they probably ship it.” Because whodoesn’twant to find that sort of safety and love with another person, with or without the sex-having part, you know?
Wicked Review: A Spectacular Adaptation
We get it, they wanted a cash grab, so they split it into two films, but why does this mostly great first part have to be so long?
It’s a sentiment with which the Broadway musical originator of the role,Kristin Chenoweth, agrees. Commenting on an Instagram post about the news fromE! News, the multi-hyphenate, OG Broadway Glinda added: “I thought so too way back when….”
Ardent fans of the story of Elphaba and Glinda — characters originally from the L. Frank Baum’sThe Wizard of Ozthat inspired Gregory Maguire’s novelWicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West —have long wondered and speculated on the true nature of the relationship between the two witches. In Maguire’s novel, the witches share a kiss, with the author even saying in an interview that he does “hint” towards their relationship being more than simply platonic. And with the lyrics and staging of songs such as “For Good” and “What Is This Feeling?” the queer undertones have long been there.
Whatever the case may be, fans are sure to be thrilled now thatWicked’s first installment is now in theaters.
Wicked adapts the Broadway musical into a two-part film, following the unlikely friendship between Elphaba, born with green skin, and Glinda, a popular aristocrat, in the Land of Oz. As they navigate their contrasting paths, they evolve into Glinda the Good and the Wicked Witch of the West.
