Ariana Grande says her character in “Wicked,” Glinda, might be secretly gay.
She’s not the only one pointing out gay undertones and overtones in the highly anticipated film adaptation of the long-running Broadway musical. The story is based on Gregory Maguire’s 1995 book Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, which provides a backstory for the central villain in The Wizard of Oz.
Especially since the new Universal Pictures release, which was directed by Jon M. Chu (“In the Heights”), there’s been a lot of conversation about whether Glinda and The Wicked Witch (Elphaba) are more than friends.
Grande shared her thoughts during a conversation with Gay Times while the interviewer was discussing “queer allegories” in “Wicked.”
“Everyone is just so beautifully queer,” Grande says of the people of Oz, mentioning how L. Frank Baum used the word “queer” frequently in his books about the mythical land when he penned them at the turn of the century.
“Every day in the Emerald City is a pride parade,” Grande added.
Cynthia Erivo, who plays Elphaba, agreed.
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“I think Elphie is… She goes wherever the wind goes. I think she loves Glinda, I think she loves love. And I don’t think there’s anything wrong with celebrating the deep connection the both of them have,” the actress said.
“They do have a real relationship. It is true love, which is probably why people are shipping it. What they build with each other is an unbreakable bond and love.”
Grande added, “And trust and truth and such a safe space for one another, which is what all relationships should be, whether it’s romantic or platonic.”
As for the relationship between the two female leads, the actress said, “Whether it’s romantic or platonic, or you know … maybe Glinda might be a little in the closet. But if there were a time? Y’know, you never know! Give it a little more time! I mean, it is just a true love. And I think that transcends sexuality, it’s just kind of a deep safety within each other. And that’s why they probably ship it.”
During the same interview, the pair mentioned plenty of other gay themes in the film, including some of the animal characters. “Dr. Dilly, with his tea and his cardigan, I’m just throwing it out there,” Grande said of the goat professor Dr. Dillamond, voiced by actor Peter Dinklage. “Gay icon, Dr. Dil.”