Ariana Grande Reviewed Her ‘Wicked’ Contract with Cynthia Erivo to Ensure Their Needs Were ‘Aligned’ Before Filming: ‘I Want Us to Have Each Other’s Backs’

variety.com:

Jack Dunn After Universal disparaged rumors of unequal pay between “Wicked” stars Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, Grande has expanded on just how far she and her co-star went to ensure fairness was upheld between them.

While speaking at a SAG-AFTRA Foundation Conversation, the 31-year-old Grammy winner said when she received her contract for “Wicked,” she called up Erivo to go through it “beat by beat” to ensure their needs were “aligned” going into filming. “When I got my contract, I called [Erivo], and was like, ‘Hey let’s go through this thing.

Let’s go beat by beat through this together and make sure we are aligned in what we need,'” Grande said. “If [Erivo needs] something, we need it together.

I want us to have each other’s backs. Your problems become my problems and mine become yours.” Grande went on to explain just how “granular” her connection with Erivo was even before production began, adding that “any press tour” or “short little TikTok” could not accurately capture the breadth of their friendship. “It’s impossible to really share the depths of how real that is.