Ariana Grande Thanks Ryan Reynolds for ‘Most Generous’ ‘Wicked’ Praise: ‘You Really Moved Me’

Ariana Grande is thanking Ryan Reynolds for his kind words about Wicked at the National Board of Review Annual Awards Gala.

At Tuesday night’s event, the Deadpool star presented the musical with the night’s main honors — and made the “Yes, And?” singer tear up in the process.

Taking the podium at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York City, Reynolds praised Wicked for its promotion of “togetherness” while giving special shout-outs to director Jon M. Chu and producer Marc Platt. The Canadian actor also specifically commended Cynthia Erivo and Grande’s performances in the film, saying of the latter, “Your comedic athleticism and charm is never at the cost of emotional stakes.”

“I have watched your performance over and over again, and I have learned from you each and every time,” Reynolds continued of Grande. “If Gene Wilder were alive today, I think he would be in awe of you. The Glinda character is a high-wire act. Your entire performance is a trust fall, and you caught yourself. You are brilliant.”

Shortly after the ceremony, Reynolds shared a photo on Instagram Stories of the R.E.M. Beauty founder listening to his speech with tears welling up in her eyes. Grande then reposted it onto her own Story and wrote, “YOU REALLLY MOVED ME.”

“CLEARLY LOL,” she added. “thank you for the [kindest] and most generous words last night am so serious they meant so much and i appreciate you !!!!!!”

The Victorious alum, Erivo, Chu and Platt were all on hand to celebrate Tuesday as Wicked took home the National Board of Review prize. At one point, the project’s two leading ladies gave a speech of their own defining the power of friendship-first collaboration between costars.

“It’s the singular ‘I love you’ text, or the random ‘I’m proud of you’ voice note,” Erivo said at one point before Grande hilariously dead-panned: “It’s being so good at acting that no one ever finds out how much we f–king loathe each other.”

The ceremony came two days after the 2025 Golden Globes, where Wicked took home the award for cinematic and box office achievement. Among the films it beat: Deadpool & Wolverine, which Reynolds starred in, co-wrote and co-produced. Following its Nov. 22 premiere, Wicked quickly became the top-grossing film based on a Broadway musical ever released. As of Jan. 5, the project has surpassed $681.3 million worldwide.

Its sequel, Wicked: For Good, hits theaters Nov. 21, 2025.