Wicked’s Cynthia Erivo and Her Partner Lena Waithe Are Quietly Adorable—Here’s Their Love Story

Wicked star Cynthia Erivo and her performance in such a juggernaut of a musical movie are all we can talk about. But in comparison, the star keeps her private life much quieter, which includes her relationship with her partner Lena Waithe.

That said, the pair are quite the power couple—both have won an Emmy (in fact, Cynthia is well on her way to EGOT status), and both are committed to supporting and championing LGBTQ+ people and stories in Hollywood.

Here’s everything we know about their low-key, adorable romance.

Who is Lena Waithe?

Lena is an actor and producer, most significantly having written the amazing crime movie Queen & Slim, which starred Jodie Turner-Smith and Daniel Kaluuya. She also created US TV series The Chi, which follows the stories of the residents of a tough and dangerous South Chicago neighborhood—Lena is from Chicago herself. She has also appeared in dramas such as Master of None and Westworld, and Lena won an Emmy for her performance in the former. Lena also presents podcast Legacy Talk, where she interviews Black actors and creators about key moments and milestones in their lives.

She has shown her support for Cynthia throughout the release of Wicked, sharing statistics around the film’s achievements on her Instagram Stories, praising Cynthia’s performance as well as the film’s production team and their hard work. Lena also shared Cynthia’s own post about Wicked, describing the experience as “long, and paved with bright, yellow brick”.

“We have laughed and cried, held hands and walked side by side, our lives intertwined, and because of that, we were irrevocably changed for good,” Cynthia posted. “We gained more than a movie. We gained a love letter to love, friendship, the celebration of the things that make us different, special, and beautiful, and the bravery it takes to change your mind.”