WTF Happened on the Set of Wicked? | Episode 96

Speaker 1 Hello, Max. Happy Tuesday.
Tuesday. I don't know what day of the week it is.
Okay.

Speaker 1 Let's get into this.

Speaker 1 So Google says that the definition of a codependent relationship is, and I quote, a dysfunctional dynamic where one person's identity and self-worth is tied to caring for or controlling another person who in turn needs to be needed.

Speaker 1 I actually, in contrast, think that the definition is simply a photo of Cynthia Arrivo and Ariana Grande. So yes, guys, you know what time it is.

Speaker 1 It is time on this lovely Wednesday afternoon to take a break from politics. Let's take a break from the infighting, the Carlson witch trials, if you will, even mocking Michelle Obama.

Speaker 1 That, you know, that is still political. I want us all to come together in unity in pursuit of something greater.

Speaker 1 And that, on this beautiful Wednesday, is to talk about Cynthia Arrivo and Ariana Grande's relationship because something needs to be done.

Speaker 1 All right, so just diving in today, last fall on comment section, I basically did this exact same episode.

Speaker 1 But the fact that a year has gone by, almost to the day, that a year has gone by and nothing has changed with these women, the fact that I am back here yet again, that says a lot.

Speaker 1 It really, really does. So if you don't know what's going on, if you live a healthy, well-adjusted life, you're out touching grass, you don't know what's happening.

Speaker 1 Wicked, which is the movie musical that put theater kids in a coma last year and took the world by storm, is only part one. And I didn't even know that when it came out.

Speaker 1 I thought that it was the entire musical, but no, I then learned that we were gonna have to go through this whole thing yet again for part two of this movie musical, and it is finally coming out this week on the 21st.

Speaker 1 I think it is called Wicked for Good or part two, whatever.

Speaker 1 And last year, as the production team was promoting part one, they introduced us all to the absolutely dysfunctional, slightly disturbing, and hilarious relationship between Cynthia, who plays Alphaba, and Ariana Grande, who plays Glenta.

Speaker 1 And these women, guys, you probably remember, they were crying. They were literally shaking.
They were holding each other's fingers as they held space. They were stroking each other's noses.

Speaker 1 And it hasn't stopped. I am like a full-body cringe chills reliving those moments.

Speaker 1 And yet today, guys, we don't have to relive anything because we have completely new clips that have come out of the most recent press tour for this part two.

Speaker 1 And so if you thought that they had gotten out all of their emotions, you know, last year, that the press tour for part two would be calmer, you would be sorely mistaken.

Speaker 1 Because last year, year, if I were to paint a picture for you and give this a bit of a metaphor, last year was like a group of high school theater kids on opening night.

Speaker 1 Cheering, emotions were high, adrenaline was rushing, they were hugging, they were screaming, they were taking over their local town's diner, singing songs in public.

Speaker 1 They have a full face of makeup, bright red lipstick, hair still gelled to the nines from the evening show. Well, this year, It's closing night.

Speaker 1 This year, it is depression, which means that the emotions are even higher. Now, one one of you guys commented about this on my video from last year about they say women.

Speaker 1 It had me cackling because I went back to re-watch that video and I was reading your comments. It was very nostalgic, I have to say.

Speaker 1 Anyway, one of you guys said, as a former theater kid who now teaches theater kids, your description of closing night at a high school musical had me busting out laughing.

Speaker 1 We did Beauty and the Beast this year and you would have thought these kids were going to war and never going to see each other again on closing night.

Speaker 1 I was like, guys, you'll see each other tomorrow at school. But no.

Speaker 1 No, guys, it is never that simple with theater kids. It never is.
And I can say that because I was one.

Speaker 1 Like closing night parties, like when I was a kid, we would go to, this is when I was doing theater in Atlanta. We would go to the Marietta Diner, like right outside of Atlanta.

Speaker 1 And I mean, it was like tears, sobbing. We would be there past our bedtime.
So it would be like midnight. And again, full makeup, basically in costumes.

Speaker 1 You are desperate for the world to see that you were in a musical, that you're here with all of your best friends who have become family. You're like, I'm never going to stop being friends with you.

Speaker 1 And then like six months later, you're doing another musical with a different cast. And like they're your new best friends.
Anyway, this is like a normal thing for theater kids.

Speaker 1 However, what is going on between Cynthia Arrivo and Ariana Grande, Alphaba, and Glinda? It is at another level. And these women, a year later, guys, it's even unhealthier than before.

Speaker 1 It is even more codependent than before. And that is really the real takeaway here because this, what we are seeing, is not normal.
You need to watch this entire clip.

Speaker 1 So, Drink that joy we wanted to infuse in every frame so that when you experience the film with all the tears and and everything else, you feel the joy in everything.

Speaker 1 So,

Speaker 1 guys, there's so much going on here. First of all, these two women, I mean, it's the most like theater kid, most Hollywood thing ever.
It's so good that they are actors.

Speaker 1 They are so desperate to be the center of attention. So, this man is speaking next to Argana Gradient, what you just saw.
This is Mark Platt. He is one of the producers on Wicked.

Speaker 1 He's a super famous, you know, Hollywood and Broadway producer. His son is Ben Platt.
If you guys are deep into the theater world, he's the one who starred in Dear Vinhansen.

Speaker 1 If you're not a theater kid, you're gonna be like, Brett, what language are you speaking? Just move on to ignore la la la la. Anyway, Mark Platt is the one speaking.

Speaker 1 He's really excited about what he's saying. He grabs Ariana.
He's like shaking her arm around. And Ariana has been doing this weird act where she's like, this, like, oh, this little delicate being.

Speaker 1 And she's like, oh, no, oh, help me. And Cynthia is like grabbing her, being like, oh, I'm so concerned.

Speaker 1 And as Mark continues to share this insight or excitement about this production that, you know, he has invested years, money, like millions of dollars, time, all of these things into.

Speaker 1 They're over here

Speaker 1 doing like a little like minstrel show. Like they're miming.

Speaker 1 Because if you see after Cynthia takes away Ariana's arm, Ariana then wants to continue the mime and she's like, oh, my arm might be broken as Mark is speaking.

Speaker 1 And then Cynthia brings it over and kisses it. This is not normal.
Like genuinely, as theater kid, I can say this is not normal. Like ladies, what is the point of this? Like what are you doing?

Speaker 1 Or what are you not telling us that you're doing or who you are doing? If you catch my drift. Anyway, all I'm saying is that it is 2025.
It is safe to come out. Gay rights have been secured.

Speaker 1 You are welcome to tell us all what is going on behind closed doors. Anyway, that's just my theory.

Speaker 1 Anyway, moving on, somebody commented and said I'm seriously starting to think that actress Cynthia Rivo has some kind of telepathic grasp over Ariana Grande.

Speaker 1 They keep acting weird even on camera together. Oh, sir, you are just now catching on to this in the year 2025.
Like it has been strange.

Speaker 1 Like it does seem as though cynthia has crowned herself ariana's keeper like from wrists to necklaces on the red carpet press door something's bothering her she's gonna fix something i know

Speaker 1 she's getting the fixing itch that cynthia arrival

Speaker 1 there oh thank you yeah because this thing is the biggest pinch-me moment for each of you on the set was it a day you arrived on the set or some special moment that happened like there's just again there's so much going on here they are simply living in their own world.

Speaker 1 I really think at the end of the day, it's like this self-obsession with each other and an elitism.

Speaker 1 Like they think that they and this like romance that they have with each other and their connection with the project is more important than doing their press.

Speaker 1 Like Mark Platt in that first clip is speaking, but what is more important is doing their little like song and dance about how in love they are and how broken Ariana is.

Speaker 1 And then in this case, a reporter is actually trying to ask a question that is relevant to them, their relationship to the project, and they are just completely ignoring him.

Speaker 1 And Ariana, you can see is like trying to like, oh, haha, okay, let me try to answer the question.

Speaker 1 Cynthia is basically giving the guy the middle finger and going oh no I'm gonna focus on this completely ignoring like it's just odd like the whole thing is just strange I will say though that necklace that she's fixing it is very pretty maybe I could find one like it on dupe.com and dupe.com is my new favorite holiday shopping hack where you can find similar products to the ones you love and want but at a way better price point for example I saw a stunning blanket online the other day but it was a whopping $200 so I checked out dupe.com I just pasted the product URL into their site and boom it found me an identical version for under $50.

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Speaker 1 What do you think makes the perfect snack? Hmm, it's gotta be when I'm really craving it, and it's convenient. Could you be more specific?

Speaker 1 When it's cravenient, okay, like a freshly baked cookie made with real butter, available right now in the street at AM P.M., or a savory breakfast sandwich I can grab in just a second at AM PM.

Speaker 1 I'm seeing a pattern here. Well, yeah, we're talking about what I crave, which is anything from AM P.M.
What more could you want?

Speaker 1 Stop by AMPM, where the snacks and drinks are perfectly cravable and convenient. That's cravenience.
AMPM, too much good stuff. You know, just a thought.

Speaker 1 Maybe we can put Cynthia and Ariana into a stop box.

Speaker 1 Just close it up until we can figure out what the hell is going on. Anyway, again, I keep saying this, but it is so relevant.
Again, these are theater kids to the most unbearable degree.

Speaker 1 They are putting on a show with their relationship. Like, no one has what they have.
No one will ever have the connection that they share.

Speaker 1 No movie will ever be as meaningful as Wicked the Movie Musical. I mean, that must be why.
They got 15 million matching tattoos last year. Let's just take a watch.

Speaker 1 I thought that during filming, you both got tattoos? Oh, yes.

Speaker 1 Can you show us any of them and what the story behind them are?

Speaker 1 This one is for good.

Speaker 1 So that when we hold hands, they touch.

Speaker 1 We have our poppies here.

Speaker 1 Hers is upside down. Mine is the other way.

Speaker 1 And then, um,

Speaker 1 you have. Well, you can't show it.
I can't show it today, but well. She has her hat and her broom.
My hat is on my, on the inside of my arm. Uh, my broom is on the outside of my my arm here.

Speaker 1 The first one we got

Speaker 1 um oh, the heart. So she has, I have a heart with a G in it, she has a heart with an E in it.
On the backs of our legs. On the backs of our legs.
And then I got Glinda from the 1901

Speaker 1 original book. Mm-hmm.
L. Frank Vaughn.
And I have a vase of poppies. Mm-hmm.
Yeah. We had a few.
I mean, at every turn, I thought that has to be the last matching tattoo.

Speaker 1 And they just kept going, oh no, and then an E here, a poppy here. We did this.
Ladies, how long have you known each other? I mean, it just doesn't stop. It never never stops.

Speaker 1 It's been going on for years at this point.

Speaker 1 And all of this literally reminds me of, you know, the over-the-top relationships that you had in middle school or high school that you inevitably grow out of.

Speaker 1 The one where you look back on and you're like, ooh, okay, yeah, my mom was right. She was right.
That was weird. Should not have called my best friend my wife.
I should not have been cringe.

Speaker 1 I should not have done X, Y, and Z. I should not have gotten a permanent tattoo with somebody that I had only known for six months.
Thankfully, God forbid, I did not do that.

Speaker 1 But I'm just saying, those are the types of things that you do when you're crazy and you're young and you're like, oh my God, I'm never going to love somebody ever like this, ever again.

Speaker 1 But that happens when you're like 17 years old. These women are in their mid-30s.
Ariana Grande is 32 years old. Cynthia Revo is 38 years old.

Speaker 1 She is pushing 40 and she's getting like 10 matching tattoos with Ariana Grande. Like, I am blaming Hollywood for this.
This is a mess. People need to grow up and grow out of this.

Speaker 1 Now, I will say there was one scary moment on this press tour that does seem to have brought them closer together.

Speaker 1 Maybe that is more understandable, but it was on the press tour, I think it was in London, where a fan jumped over the barricade onto the red carpet and rushed in to take a picture with Ariana Grande.

Speaker 1 This guy is like sort of well known for doing stunts like this. Like a couple of months ago, he managed to jump up on stage with Katy Perry.
I don't know how he hasn't been reprimanded more seriously.

Speaker 1 I think he had to do nine days in jail after this stunt with Ariana. But anyway, the point is, obviously that would be scary and overwhelming to anyone, but you need to see how Cynthia responded.

Speaker 1 So Cynthia, first of all, she jumped right in there. And I just do have to ask, like, why was Ariana's work wife more effective than security?

Speaker 1 Why was she faster than the armed guards that are literally there to help protect these women? Anyway, but you do need to see these photos because she jumped in.

Speaker 1 She was like, no, get off of this woman, you know, get away from Ariana. And then she grabs Ariana into this embrace.
This is where it gets weird. Grabs her and starts glaring at the crowds.

Speaker 1 Look at these photos. Something is not right.
Like, I'm sorry, ladies, you have to understand why people are confused.

Speaker 1 You have to understand why people are making memes out of you because there's just something going on here. Like I know that she's protecting her prey.
Sorry, her friend. She's protecting her friend.

Speaker 1 But that's just like a lot here. Like how has Ariana become over the last three years? How has she become this little like delicate flower that is all but dying without Cynthia sustaining her?

Speaker 1 Like that really is what it comes down to in my opinion. Like the hand, the, oh, I need you, all of these things.

Speaker 1 Like I don't know if they think that this is some kind of cute or endearing act, but after like three years of this, like I think we are all just a bit concerned.

Speaker 1 Like it has gotten to the point where they are not going out without each other. Listen to this headline.
This is from Pop Grave.

Speaker 1 Cynthia Arrivo has lost her voice and will not be doing interviews at the Wicked for Good premiere in New York tonight. Ariana Grande will also be skipping interviews in solidarity.

Speaker 1 And guys, the comments were hysterical. These first two I'm going to read to you, like this.

Speaker 1 encapsulates what I am thinking about these women. This person said, she can't speak without her precious around.
Somebody else said, I am certain that Cynthia has made Ariana into her whore crux.

Speaker 1 I just can't prove it yet. Like, this is what I mean.
There is something odd. There is something off.
Ariana has been destabilized.

Speaker 1 And now we have Cynthia Arrivo in here who's swooping in to protect her. And it just doesn't seem right.

Speaker 1 Somebody else commented and said, the concept of someone standing against laryngitis in solidarity. Yeah.

Speaker 1 The next time that a fellow podcaster is sick, can't speak, like when Matt Walsh goes and does one of his like silent shows, I will also do the same.

Speaker 1 In solidarity for my good, good friend who cannot speak. Somebody else said, the way I thought this was poo crave, but y'all are being deadass.
Yeah, it is all dead ass.

Speaker 1 All of this is real, and no one takes it all more seriously than these two. Like, I have never seen two individuals more serious about themselves, even when it comes to their auras.

Speaker 1 Just watch this video.

Speaker 1 We've never been asked that. We've never been asked that question.
That's incredible. That's a great question to ask.

Speaker 1 If you had to describe each other's aura, what color would it be?

Speaker 1 That's a nice question. An aura.
Yellow. For me.
Sunshine. Yeah.
Oh, thank you. And like also.

Speaker 1 I think there's also purple.

Speaker 1 That was very good. I see like a

Speaker 1 like a Ciel blue.

Speaker 1 You know? Like a pink.

Speaker 1 Wow. I'm so moved by that response.
So specific. This is so sorry.
It's very specific. And like.
Oh, my God.

Speaker 1 And

Speaker 1 like a, like, like sunset orange.

Speaker 1 Thank you so much. Yeah.
Okay, you know that meme where it's like, okay, now kid. That is how I feel at this morning.
I'm like, ladies, just like,

Speaker 1 put us out of our misery. Just like do the damn thing.
Also, by the way, they were on the red carpet.

Speaker 1 I think this is when Cynthia had lost her voice because I believe I was seeing these clips last night and they were, you know, posing, doing all the things.

Speaker 1 Ariana leans in to say something to Cynthia and they literally looked like they were about to kiss. Photographers caught it like they were leaning and everybody was like, oh my God, it's happening.

Speaker 1 It didn't happen. They were just telling each other they loved each other.
That's all that was happening.

Speaker 1 Somebody commented and said it's like they eat cakes and edibles together before each interview. Yes, seriously.
That question was not that serious.

Speaker 1 And they completely tune out the interviewer as as they do and they're just like locked into one another. Aqua

Speaker 1 is purple. What is happening, ladies? Sorry.
I just...

Speaker 1 It's just so much. It's so much.
I'm having way too much fun. But you know what, guys? The fun does not have to end because these two, they will be together forever.

Speaker 1 It's been a pleasure spending time with you. It's good pleasure getting to know you.
And I hope you will be there the rest of my life.

Speaker 1 I hope you'll let my French be one of the things that you're learning how to let in.

Speaker 1 Pore of you.

Speaker 1 it's like i watch these women cry and i'm like should i be laughing like am i laughing at two mentally ill women like should i be are they unstable should i be nicer but i'm like no like now i'm crying i'm crying along with them because this just can't be real can you imagine me like sitting on camera this friendship it just means so much no no

Speaker 1 no i just can't that is the point of this episode like seriously like what happened on that set like do we need a lesson in trauma bonding do we need to learn about the dangers of codependent relationships and how that can impact a vulnerable person?

Speaker 1 Are we going to see a documentary come out in 10 years about like what happened on the set of Wicked is going to be like the Dan Schneider-Nickelodeon documentary, but instead it's going to be John Chu, that's the director and Wicked?

Speaker 1 Like maybe, maybe guys. As a society, we should take these insane clips as an opportunity to reflect on our own lives.
Like, are we? in unhealthy relationships? Are we emotionally unstable?

Speaker 1 Are we gripping our friends' fingers in emotional support? That is a clear sign that maybe we all need to like touch touch some grass, go outside, log off. But you know what?

Speaker 1 It could also be none of those things. It could also just be severe malnutrition because these women do not look the same as when they were cast in Wicked.

Speaker 1 This is another comment from my original video last year. And one of you guys said, malnutrition makes you emotional too.
And these women look like they are preparing physically for Schindler's list.

Speaker 1 Yeah, I mean, you are not wrong. But like, guys, the thing is, the interviewers are also not helping here.
Like, they are feeding into all of this.

Speaker 1 They now love the bit of these women crying and being emotional. And this was potentially the craziest one that I saw.
I'm so excited. I'm chaotic.
No, no, it's chaotic.

Speaker 1 I'm autistic as well. So there's, I've been told the rules are seven minutes.
So

Speaker 1 you two are so important to the autistic community. I hope you know that.
You're my ADHD and you're my autism and you're my brain incarnate. We love you.

Speaker 1 Okay, first of all, that's just like a wild thing to say, but the best part, we just need to pause right here to see Cynthia and Ariada's reactions.

Speaker 1 Cynthia is like, I have never heard anything so profound. I am your autism.
What again? What is going on here? What does that even mean? Like people are like, let's just calm down.

Speaker 1 Let's just stop feeding into this drama that, in my opinion, is slowly killing these women.

Speaker 1 Like Cynthia and Ariana, maybe go on a vacation separate from each other, get into relationships, be happy, eat a steak. That could be a great thing.
Maybe some potatoes.

Speaker 1 That usually helps me when I'm feeling hangry. Anyway, moving on.
The point is, Wicked is a great musical. I think it was actually the first like professional musical I ever saw.
I love it.

Speaker 1 It has great songs. Last year, like Defying Gravity was my anthem, not for the reason of this musical coming out or anything to do with Ariana and Cynthia Rivo.
It's just like a fantastic song.

Speaker 1 They felt very relatable to me. But nothing.
Nothing is this deep. Let's consciously uncouple from our codependent relationships and go outside and touch some freaking grass, Cynthia and Ariana.

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I know, I'm putting them back. Hey, Dave, here's a tip.
Put scratchers on your list.

Speaker 1 Oh, scratchers. Good idea.
It's an easy shopping trip. We're glad we could assist.
Thanks, random singing people. So be like Dave this holiday and give the gift of play.

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