Ariana Grande hints Wicked’s Glinda’s sexuality will be explored in second film after ‘queerbaiting’ claims: ‘Never know!’
Ariana Grande hinted that her character Glinda’s sexuality will be explored further in the second Wicked film, following earlier backlash she received over her comments about the role.
The 31-year-old actress made the revelation during a new interview with Variety, where she discussed the relationship between her character and Cynthia Erivo’s Elphaba.
The Thank You… Next singer faced accusations of “queerbaiting” in November when she suggested Glinda might be “in the closet”, leaving many to question the singer’s intentions over the comment.
Speaking to the publication alongside co-star Erivo, Grande shared her belief that Glinda and Elphaba are “in love with each other” but that it’s “platonic” – which further enhanced their relationship within the film.
“I think she’s a person who loves so much, and I do think that it goes beyond gender, and I think that’s a common theme in Oz,” Grande explained.
The star then cryptically added: “But we’ll talk about it more in-depth in movie two.”
During an interview with Gay Times, the controversy was sparked when she said: “Glinda might be a little in the closet. You never know! Give it a little more time.”
Speaking in the same interview, she described Oz as a “celebration of uniqueness”, claiming that “everyone is just so beautifully queer”.
The actress went even further, suggesting that “every day in the Emerald City is a Pride parade… even like the chickens, those chickens are gay”, before going on to refer to Peter Dinklage’s character Doctor Dillamond as a “gay icon”.
“Queerbaiting” has been branded as a marketing technique where creators within the entertainment industry hint at LGBTQ+ representation without actually depicting it in the final project.
Fans quickly took to social media to express mixed reactions to Grande’s comments, leaving one to critique: “The queerbaiting is getting too out of hand”.
Another questioned: “Why can’t they just be platonic?”
However, others celebrated the suggestions about Glinda’s sexuality, with one fan writing: “Ariana confirmed Glinda is a little out of the closet! We won!”
“As a theatre kid all I can say is Glinda is definitely in the closet and not a little bit”, another supporter added.
The first Wicked film opened in theatres on November 22, 2024, with the sequel, Wicked: For Good, set to premiere on November 21, 2025.
The £150m budget adaptation of the 2003 Broadway musical has proven to be a box office success – with thousands flocking to see the film as soon as it was released.
The critically acclaimed fantasy film has already amassed £643.8million at the global box office since its release – leaving fans to eagerly anticipate the second film.
The film follows Glinda and Elphaba’s journey from enemies to friends during their school years, with romantic subplots involving Prince Fiyero (played by Jonathan Bailey) and Boq (Ethan Slater).