Ariana Grande’s Inner Circle Sounds The Alarm As Tension Rises

Ariana Grandemay be celebrating blockbuster movie success, but those closest to her are quietly worried.

With the second "Wicked" film dominating the Box Office and her schedule filling with new commitments, insiders say the superstar is facing emotional strain that is becoming harder to hide.

Now, her inner circle is urging her to slow down before the pressure spirals further.

The second "Wicked" movie has delivered another smash hit, yet the excitement surrounding it has come with an unexpected cost for Ariana Grande.

According to multiple sources, the whirlwind "Wicked: For Good" press tour has left her wrestling with “anxiety” and creeping exhaustion.

With another film role lined up in the upcoming comedy "Focker-In-Law" and her major Eternal Sunshine tour beginning next June, her calendar shows no signs of easing.

Those close to her have begun to speak up, privately at first, and now more openly. They fear that the nonstop pace is wearing her down.

One family member revealed to the Daily Mail, “Ariana did not handle [the press tour] well at all.” The insider continued, “It bothered her a lot – from the red carpet incident [in which a man rushed her] to what people were saying about her online. She can be very thin-skinned, and people commenting on how skinny she is was really troubling to her.”

What should have been a celebratory run quickly turned emotionally draining.

Discussions about her appearance overshadowed her performance, and a frightening fan encounter at the Singapore premiere intensified the pressure.

The fan incident at the Singapore premiere has become a defining moment in this chapter of Grande’s life.

When Johnson Wen, a known red-carpet crasher, leapt forward and grabbed her, the chaos sent ripples through her team.

Cynthia Erivo, her co-star and now one of her closest confidantes, immediately stepped in and wrapped her arm around Grande as security intervened.

A source later shared that the incident triggered deep emotional distress tied to the PTSD she has lived with since the 2017 Manchester Arena tragedy.

“She is struggling right now,” the family member said. “She’s not in a healthy place, and she knows it. Everyone around her knows it. Her anxiety is through the roof. She over-exerted herself, and the cracks started to show pretty quickly.”

Despite the swelling concern, those around Grande remain focused on helping her recover.

“Fortunatel,y she’s got a support system. Everyone is encouraging her to take care of her own mental health – because she needs to,” the insider insisted.

Erivo has emerged as a grounding force for Ariana Grande, especially during the stormy press cycle.

Their bond formed during filming in the U.K. in late 2022 and has only deepened since.

Their emotional closeness, which includes crying together, exchanging comforting touches, and supporting each other through high-pressure interviews, became a defining theme of the "Wicked: For Good" promotional circuit.

Grande even joked publicly that she and Erivo were “secretly married,” while Erivo herself admitted the pair get “very emotional” discussing the film.

Behind the scenes, Erivo’s presence has been described as stabilizing. The family source explained that Grande “has leaned on Cynthia a lot” during the press tour and that Erivo “checks in” multiple times daily.

“She really is her protector and helper, and they are even closer now than they were before,” the insider shared. “She has almost taken a motherly role, but definitely a big sister. Cynthia is helping her get through this latest bout.”

A second insider confirmed Erivo’s willingness to go even further.

They shared, “If Ariana needs a break from it all, Cynthia is ready to take on any media requirements to protect Ariana at all costs – answer questions on her behalf.”

The second insider added, “Cynthia is the stronger presence between the two, and Ariana can't thank her enough.”

Despite turbulence behind the scenes, Ariana Grande’s career continues to soar.

Her performance as Glinda has earned her back-to-back Golden Globe nominations for Best Supporting Actress.

Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, she reflected on the unexpected recognition, noting, “It is definitely just as exciting [as last year's nomination] and kind of blindsiding. You don't expect something like this, let alone [for it] to happen twice for the same role. So I'm just deeply honored. I'm just really moved by it.”

One insider told the Daily Mail that filming "Wicked" reignited Grande’s love for acting, saying she “had such an amazing time” that “she got the bug to act more.”

She also shared with The Hollywood Reporter her desire to return to the theater someday.

“I think as someone who started on Broadway, I would love to be on stage in that way again, and exercise a different muscle and continue to tell stories in different ways,” she said. “I'm so lucky to be here, and I love acting. It's really fun.”

While her acting career climbs, Grande’s relationship with touring has shifted drastically.

The upcoming 41-date Eternal Sunshine tour, her first since 2019, is expected to be her farewell to long-haul touring for the foreseeable future.

One insider stated, “She’s done with touring – it just takes so much out of her,” adding that she may consider a Las Vegas residency for future album cycles.

“She is adamant that this next tour might be her last,” the source explained. “She's going to give it her all on this tour, but she will be happy to be done with it all.”

As excitement builds for new artistic chapters, her inner circle remains committed to keeping her grounded.