Ariana Grande set the internet buzzing after stepping onto the red carpet at the 2026 Golden Globe Awards looking unmistakably like her old pop-star self. Dressed in a dramatic black Vivienne Westwood ball gown and wearing her signature brunette ponytail, the singer and actress instantly sparked speculation about what the look might mean—not just for her image, but for her much-discussed bond with Wicked co-star Cynthia Erivo.
The Globes, held at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, were packed with Hollywood spectacle, but Grande’s appearance quickly became one of the night’s most talked-about moments. Fans noticed that she had fully moved on from the Glinda-inspired blonde aesthetic she embraced throughout the Wicked press tour. Instead, the darker hair and classic styling felt like a deliberate callback to her early career, leading many to wonder whether she was signaling a return to her pop roots as awards season heats up.
As a Best Supporting Actress nominee for Wicked: For Good, Grande knew all eyes would be on her. Online chatter exploded with theories that the look symbolized the end of the Wicked era and a reset of her public persona. For longtime fans, the ponytail alone was enough to trigger nostalgia and fuel the idea that Grande is reclaiming her original identity after one of the most intense promotional campaigns of her career.
That campaign also made headlines for another reason: Grande’s extremely close public relationship with Erivo. Throughout the promotion of Wicked and its sequel, the two were nearly inseparable, sharing emotional interviews, affectionate red carpet moments, and viral clips that showed them holding hands and tearing up together. Their bond became part of the film’s cultural conversation, praised by supporters as authentic and questioned by skeptics who felt the intensity bordered on performative.
Rumors of a possible rift began circulating earlier this month after a blind item on a Hollywood gossip site hinted that two unnamed A-list co-stars were no longer on speaking terms. Fans quickly connected the dots to Grande and Erivo, especially after noticing that Grande did not post a public birthday tribute for Erivo this year. Reddit threads and posts on X ran wild with speculation that the friendship had cooled now that major promotional duties were over.
So far, there’s been no evidence to back up those claims. Previous reports citing unnamed insiders have described the friendship as genuine, shaped by the unique experience of filming Wicked together. Sources have also pointed out that packed schedules and distance—Grande based mostly in Los Angeles and Erivo in London—could naturally lead to fewer public interactions without signaling any real conflict.
For now, Grande’s Golden Globes moment seems to have reignited curiosity more than confirmed any drama. Whether her classic look represents personal independence, a shift away from the theatrical Wicked image, or simply a fashion choice for awards season, it has once again placed her evolving image and high-profile friendships under the spotlight. Neither Grande nor Erivo has addressed the rumors, leaving fans to read between the lines—and keep talking.
