‘Wicked’ Star Cynthia Erivo Also Faced ‘homewrecker’ Allegations Like Ariana Grande- Lena Waithe Cheating Rumors Explained

Actress Cynthia Erivo will play Elphaba in the musical fantasy movie Wicked alongside Ariana Grande. She is widely known for starring in the Broadway revival of The Color Purple from 2015 to 2017 and for receiving an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress for her role in Harriet.

Directed by Jon M. Chu, Wicked is the first of a two-part film adaptation of the stage musical Wicked by Stephen Schwartz and Holzman. Gregory Maguire’s 1995 novel of the same name loosely bases the stage musical. The recently released movie has had its fair share of controversies, including Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater’s relationship, but recent reports have suggested that Cynthia Erivo also faced the same allegations.

Lena Waithe allegedly cheated on her ex-wife with Wicked actress Cynthia Erivo

According to reports by The List, actress Cynthia Erivo has mostly kept her personal life private and away from the camera but her relationship with Lena Waithe has drawn a lot of attention. She came out as queer in 2021 during an interview with The Evening Standard, and later in 2022. Also, during an interview with British Vogue, she identified as bisexual.

The actress at the time shared that she does not understand the constant justification given to why LGBTQ+ deserve to be treated as equals. She noted that the only difference between them and straight people is the fact that the LGBTQ+ community expresses themself differently. 

The actress was spotted holding hands with actress-producer and screenwriter Lena Waithe at the Alvin Ailey Spirit Gala in 2022, seemingly hinting their relationship. (via Page Six) The two of them never addressed the status of their relationship despite knowing each other since 2018, but a user on Reddit labeled Erivo as a ‘terrible person and a homewrecker’.

The reason being the fact that Waithe was previously married to film executive Alana Mayo, and after two months, the couple called it quits, and their divorce was finalized in 2020. (via E! News) Fans soon started to speculate that Waithe had allegedly cheated on Mayo with Erivo. However, Waithe never commented on the situation.

Bossip reported at the time that Waithe had been unfaithful to her ex-wife Alana Mayo during their marriage. They added that the screenwriter had swiftly moved on with Broadway actress Cynthia Erivo after she called it quits with Mayo. It’s interesting to note that the year Waithe’s marriage came to an end, she wrote a musical drama, Talent Show, which starred Erivo. However there is no evidence hinting that she cheated on Mayo with Erivo.

Since then, Waithe and Erivo have been spotted on various occasions but have never commented on the status of their relationship. Waithe supported her partner at the premiere of Erivo’s recently released movie Wicked on November 9th, 2024, and wore a green outfit, giving a sweet nod to Erivo’s character.

In an interview with Vanity Fair, the Wicked movie actress shared that she is very tight-lipped about her relationships because she does not think that her relationship is for everyone but her. She added during the interview that she spends so much of her life sharing everything with everyone, whether it’s work or her soul or her life; she thought she was allowed to keep something for herself.

The actress also added that it’s enough for people to know that she’s queer and could have relationships with men or women or neither.

Ethan Slater calls Cynthia Erivo as Ariana Grande’s ‘soul mate’

Ariana Grande’s boyfriend Ethan Slater recently shared with Today that Erivo and Grande are each other’s soulmates. He explained,

Their friendship is really real and really deep and really informed by the work that they did together. They are both like, after a full day of junkets, ‘Well, we cried 100 times again. Everyone must be getting so annoyed’.

Slater, who started dating Ari during the filming of the musical fantasy, noted that, according to him, their crying comes from a genuine place, and the reason why they are crying is that they finally get to talk about reflecting on their work. He further said that it’s an emotional process to dive into characters who go through such a journey.

The actor shared with the publication that it’s been a really long and intense process, and you eventually bond with the people you’re working around with. Talking about the crying, Erivo shared with Hoda Kotb and Savannah Guthrie it’s been such a long journey for both of them, adding that it’s a huge dream come true.

Broadway actress took to her social media to share her excitement as part one of their two-part musical fantasy movie released on November 22, 2024. She wrote that they gained more than a movie, adding that they have gained a love letter to love, friendship, and celebration of things that make them different, as well as the bravery that it takes to change one’s mind.

Erivo noted a special thank you to Elphaba by writing that it’s been her honor to play her on-screen and shared that it’s been an experience of a lifetime working with Grande and Jon M. Chu.

Wicked is now playing in cinemas.