Cynthia Erivo, a 37-year-old British actress, has shown unwavering support for Ariana Grande. The two star together in the blockbuster musical "Wicked" as "wicked witch" Elphaba and Glinda respectively. In the face of online criticisms surrounding Grande's appearance, Erivo has spoken out.

Cyber Bullying: A Dangerous Phenomenon

During an appearance at the Red Sea International Film Festival in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Dec. 6, Erivo addressed the issue of cyber bullying. She told the audience (per The Hollywood Reporter), "Cyber bullying is quite dangerous. It's easy to be behind a computer and type words about a person you don't know." This emphasizes the ease with which people can engage in harmful behavior online.The Broadway star further urged fans to "be the counterpoint" to online trolls. She added, "Be the person who tells the positive. What a person who has never met you thinks is never more important than what you think of yourself." This message highlights the importance of having a positive influence and not succumbing to negative online behavior.In addition to Erivo's comments, Grande herself has also spoken out about the criticisms she has received during the "Wicked" press tour. In a joint interview with Erivo and French content creator Crazy Sally, the "Side to Side" singer opened up about dealing with the comments throughout her career.She said, "I've been doing this in front of the public and been a specimen in a Petri dish really since I was 16 or 17. I have heard it all. I've heard every version of it. You're young and you're hearing all kinds of things." This shows the long history of Grande facing such criticisms and the impact it has had on her.Calling the comments "dangerous for all parties involved," Grande added, "It's hard to protect yourself from that noise. It's something that is uncomfortable no matter what scale you're experiencing it on, even if you go to Thanksgiving dinner and someone's granny says 'Oh my god you look skinnier, what happened?' or 'you look heavier what happened?'." This highlights the pervasive nature of such comments and how they can affect people in various settings.

Support from Erivo and Others

In addition to Erivo's support, Grande is also grateful for the people she surrounds herself with for their encouragement amidst the critical comments. She said, "I'm really lucky to have the support system that I have and to just know and trust that I'm beautiful. But I do know what the pressure of that noise feels like. It's been a resident in my life since I was 17. I just don't invite it in anymore. I have work to do, I have a life to live, I have friends to love on. I have so much love. It's not invited, so I don't leave space for it anymore."She also encouraged others to protect their peace. "You keep yourself safe because no one has the right to say s—," she said. This shows the importance of surrounding oneself with a supportive network and not letting negative comments affect one's well-being.Overall, Cynthia Erivo's support for Ariana Grande and their shared experiences highlight the importance of addressing cyber bullying and protecting one's mental health in the face of online criticism.