Wicked’s Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo reveal the truth about their contracts after pay gap rumors

Bad stars Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo have revealed the truth about their contracts for the film – after rumors of a pay gap between them.

The pair are basking in the box office success of Wicked: Part 1, the first part in the two-film version of the great 2003 musical.

Leading up to the film’s release, a cloud of rumors emerged that Ariana, a globally known pop star, was paid significantly more than Cynthia.

As suspicion reached fever pitch, Universal Pictures issued a statement in November emphasizing that both actresses earned the same pay.

Now, Cynthia and Ariana have opened up about the “rare” step they took to ensure they were compensated equally.

‘We went through our contracts together and called each other. “Have you seen that? What do you think? Let’s settle it together!'” Ariana, 31, shared Variety.

“We’ve both been there: ‘What song are we doing? What do you think?’ We were really damn honest. And that is really rare. People don’t do that,” says Cynthia, who plays the lead role of Elphaba in the film.

“We are very different, but when we do something like this together, her needs become my needs,” Ariana said. “And her needs become mine,” Cynthia said.

In the same interview, they discussed how they “took care of each other” during their emotional, much-derided press tour for Jon M. Chu’s $150 million budget pic.

Ariana said, “I’m so grateful and proud of how present we were able to be. A lot of people have come up to us and said, “How are you?” with a long face. And we just looked at each other and said, ‘We are grateful and floating.’

The globetrotting belters had a habit of rioting at the slightest provocation during their international premieres and press conferences, such as when Jakes Takes asked how they changed each other on November 8.

Ariana and the British 37-year-old also liberally used buzzwords like “holding space” in an interview with Therapy. From magazine on November 21.

‘We can giggle about it all we want because we’re quite funny. I watched and giggled,” Grande (née Butera) admitted.

“But it’s really a privilege to work like that and feel like that, not just as an actress in a movie, but as a human being with other people who care about the work, but also about each other.”

But the two-time Grammy winner argued that their evil castmate Jeff Goldblum – who played the Wizard of Oz – was actually the most emotional person on set and not themselves.

“I think Jeff kept it to himself,” Ariana said.

“But every time I wanted to look at him, he was sitting quietly in the corner watching what was going on, crying.”

Refreshingly, Grande and Erivo “went through our contracts together” and received equal pay to play the Good Witch of the South, Galinda Upland, and the Wicked Witch of the West, Elphaba Thropp.

The 45-year-old filmmaker commented: “This is a modern production. This is what Hollywood should reflect. These are co-CEOs of Wicked Inc.”

The critically acclaimed $150 million budget fantasy film has grossed $643.8 million at the worldwide box office since opening on November 22.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will officially announce the Oscar nominations on January 17, and both ladies are eager to hear their names called.

“I’ll raise hell if this lady doesn’t get her nomination,” the Defying Gravity belter sneered.

“It’s a really fucking tough job to jump into the middle of something like this and have it be your first time.”

The Florida-born former child star said: “And I can’t wait to be completely in the audience. But you, Miss Elphaba, deserve your flowers, and I can’t wait to hold your train while you get that EGOT—and your gooey vitamins, and your thermos.”

But first Cynthia will compete for the Best Actress in a Musical/Comedy trophy at the 82nd Golden Globe Awards, airing this Sunday on CBS/Paramount+.

Erivo will face stiff competition against Nightbi***’s Amy Adams, Emilia Pérez’s Karla Sofía Gascón, Anora’s Mikey Madison, The Substance’s Demi Moore and Challengers’ Zendaya.

And Ariana is nominated for best supporting actress against both Emilia Pérez stars Selena Gomez and Zoe Saldaña, The Brutalist’s Felicity Jones, The Substance’s Margaret Qualley and Conclave’s Isabella Rossellini.

Grande and the daughter of Nigerian immigrants will then compete for awards at the 30th Critics’ Choice Awards, airing Jan. 12 on E!/Peacock.

The Bye singer also scored three nominations — including best pop vocal album for Eternal Sunshine — at the 67th annual Grammy Awards, which air Feb. 2 on CBS.

Chu teased that the sequel Wicked: For Good, which doesn’t hit U.S. theaters until November 21, will be “messy.”

Ariana and Cynthia are especially excited for the world to see their upcoming farewell duet, For Good.

“The scene leading up to it – and after it – is quite a meal,” Grande said.

“I remember leaving my body at one point and hanging around all week.”

Erivo added, “That was a lot.”

Later this year, the A Little Night Music actor will executive produce and star as London lawyer Tessa in Susanna White’s big-screen adaptation of the play Prime Facie.

Cynthia will also voice a character named The Slink in the Disney Jr. animated series Robogobo, which centers on a boy genius and his adopted five misfit pets.

Erivo literally built her entire career on playing prominent African Americans like Aretha Franklin, Harriet Tubman and The Color Purple lead Celie Harris-Johnson.