Ariana Grande’s UK fans were in for a wicked surprise last month as the A-List actress reconnected with her ex co-star Cynthia Erivo on stage for a special, one-off performance of their Wicked soundtrack hit “For Good.”
This was the first time the co-stars had sung together since wrapping up the Wicked press tour; a reunion nobody saw coming as Ariana jetted to London for a tour-ending ten-concert run at The O2 Arena.
Racking up close to 100,000 views across countless YouTube uploads, and millions more across social media fan footage, Music Man readers can watch the moment Ariana and Cynthia revived their friendship in the video above…
Deafening screams blanket the arena, drowning out Ariana Grande’s opening lines as she stands beside Cynthia on stage. With matching white lace aesthetics, the pair serve sisterly energy as they reinvent the title track for Wicked 2: For Good.
While public consensus on the film itself may have been tainted by the ceaseless controversy circling its two lead actresses, Ariana’s fans prove exactly how much her Wicked era meant as her London audience of 20,000 belt the lyrics as loudly as Ari herself, while Cynthia smiles on adoringly.
Then, London local Cynthia steals the second verse, lined by the chants of her hometown fans as Ariana fights back the tears. Before long, angelic Broadway harmonies are filling the arena as if the pair never parted ways, planting kisses on each other’s hands as their surprise duet draws to a close.
This wasn’t the only song Ariana and Cynthia stunned fans with that night. The pair also reprised the medley “Get Happy” / “Happy Days Are Here Again” in a second viral video which readers can discover further up this page.
To us outsiders looking in, it’d be easy to assume Ariana and Cynthia’s friendship was simply a press tour stunt; a playful respect towards co-stars who would inevitably distance themselves after the Wicked era ended. However, Cynthia’s one-off duet during Ariana’s second London show is the ultimate proof of their persisting friendship, and a heartfelt bond which totally transcends the screen.
Emotional Arianators have been sharing on Instagram, “This is literally the MOST unexpected and best thing to ever happen.” Meanwhile, some London fans are dumbfounded at accidentally picking the wrong night to attend, with one heartbroken audience member commenting to the tune of 365 likes, “I missed it by one day?!”