Ariana Grande expects there will be more discussion about her evil character Glinda’s sexuality following the release of the second film later this year.

The 31-year-old actress revisited the subject of Glinda’s sexuality in a new interview with Variety after previously being accused of “queerbaiting.”

Grande was joined by her co-star Cynthia Erivo, 37, who plays the Wicked Witch of the West Elphaba, and shared that she believes Glinda and Elphaba are “in love” but it is “platonic.”

When asked to clarify her recent comments about Glinda being “a little bit queer,” Grande shared, “I think she’s a person who loves so much, and I think that it goes beyond gender, and I think that’s a common theme in Oz.”‘

“I also think that the way she loves Elphaba so much, and this forgiveness and this unconditional love that they share – I think that they are in love with each other. “I know, yes, it’s platonic…”

The star then added: “But we’ll talk about it in more detail in the second film.”

Elsewhere in the interview, the stars talked about how they “took care of each other” during their emotional, much-mocked press tour for Jon M. Chu’s $150 million big-screen adaptation of the 2003 Broadway musical.

This comes after Grande stated in a November interview that Glinda “might be a little bit in the closet.”

Grande and Erivo sat down with British newspaper Gay Times and were asked about fans picturing their characters as a romantic duo.

However, Ariana’s answers sparked backlash from some fans who accused her of “queerbaiting.”

“Glinda may be in the closet for a bit.” You never know! “Give him some more time,” she said in the interview.

Grande also said Oz is a “celebration of uniqueness,” adding, “Everyone is just so wonderfully queer and that goes back to the L. Frank Baum books where literally the most used word in the books is, ” queer.’

The star continued: “In the Emerald City (the capital of the fictional land of Oz) there is a pride parade every day… even like the chickens, these chickens are gay.”

Elsewhere in the interview, she called Doctor Dillamond, played by Peter Dinklage, a “gay icon.”

Meanwhile, Erivo said of her green witch, “I think Elphie goes where the wind blows.”

“I think she loves Glinda. I think she loves love. And I don’t think there’s anything wrong with celebrating the deep bond between the two.”

“They have a relationship. It’s true love, and that’s probably why people send it, you know?’ Erivo added. “Because what they build with each other is an unbreakable bond and love.”

Grande then said of her Good Witch character, “And trust and truth. ‘Such a safe space for each other, as there should be in all relationships, whether romantic or platonic.’

“I mean, it’s just true love, and I think that goes beyond sexuality,” Grande shared.

“It’s just a kind of deep security in each other.” And that’s probably why they ship it.”

The interviewer then asked if everyone in Oz was LGBTQ+.

“I think so, a little,” Cynthia said. “Yes,” Ariana agreed.

In Wicked, Glinda and Elphaba start out as enemies but become friends at school.

There are romantic storylines in the film, as Glinda pursues Prince Fiyero, who is secretly interested in Elphaba, and Boq (played by Grande’s real-life boyfriend Ethan Slater) pines for Glinda, who does not return his affections.

Following the interview, fans quickly went online, with one writing: “The queerbaiting is getting too out of hand.”

Queerbaiting is a marketing technique in which creators imply same-sex romantic relationships or other LGBTQ+ representation without actually depicting it.

Another asked: “Why can’t they just be platonic?”

‘OH????’ another simply said.

Another fan added: “Ariana reposts Gelphie memes on her story, she likes a post about the lesbian colored flower fields, says the boy is mine, it’s about Elphaba, then she says Glinda is in the closet… “

“Ariana cares deeply about this ship!” First she says Glinda is a little in the closet and now she’s wearing Elphie’s hat?! Girl.’

However, some fans had a different opinion, with one commenting: “Ariana confirmed that Glinda is a little out of it! We won!”

The lead actresses also did another interview with GLAAD where they were asked what they hope “Wicked” will do for LGBTQ audiences.

“That you deserve all the good things.” That it is your difference that makes you special. That your strangeness is beautiful. That I love you.’

“Elphaba is just like you and she understands what it feels like to be alone and to feel different, but that doesn’t make you any less special than you were born,” Erivo said.

Of the fantasy world of “The Wizard of Oz,” Grande added, “Oz is a very strange place and always has been, even since the L. Frank Baum books. “It’s always been strange.”

“Wicked” was released in theaters on November 22, 2024 and the sequel “Wicked: For Good” is in theaters on November 21, 2025.

The critically acclaimed, $150 million fantasy film has grossed $643.8 million at the global box office since its premiere.