Cynthia Erivo is getting people talking after sharing her perspective that real love isn’t transactional. During a recent conversation, the award-winning actress and singer described love in its best form as unconditional and rooted in growth rather than exchange.
Speaking with radio personality Angie Martinez, Erivo explained that love should not operate as a system of trade-offs. “Love in its best form is not transactional, and it is not conditional,” she said. Reflecting on what genuine partnership looks like, she described it as an act of “walking each other home.” According to Erivo, when two people find real love, they walk alongside one another through life, creating space for who each person is becoming.
She elaborated that being with someone long-term requires making room for change. As people evolve, she said, partners must allow space for that growth while continuing to serve the best interests of one another. For Erivo, love means creating an environment where both individuals can become their fullest selves. She described that kind of connection as beautiful.
The comments came during a broader discussion about her personal growth. Erivo spoke about moving past the need for external validation and building her own sense of self-worth, framing her views on love as part of that journey.
In a separate conversation published Feb. 10 with The Stylist, Erivo also addressed media speculation about her close friendship with Ariana Grande. She said there was a “strange fascination” with rumors that the two were romantically involved.
“At first, I think people didn’t understand how it was possible for two women to be friends—close—and not lovers,” Erivo, 39, said. She noted that some people assumed their bond was staged for cameras or that they were secretly in a relationship.
Erivo attributed the speculation to limited public conversation around deep platonic female friendships. She said that while those connections exist everywhere, audiences are not used to seeing them centered publicly. A relationship where people are genuinely connected, she suggested, can make some uncomfortable because society is not always taught to view those bonds as positive and healthy.
Erivo, who has been romantically linked to Lena Waithe since 2022, continues to speak openly about growth, connection, and the kind of love she believes in. Her reflections have sparked debate online, with many weighing in on whether modern relationships lean too heavily on conditions and expectations.
