Oprah Winfrey and Cynthia Erivo Recreate Iconic Finger-Holding Moment at 2025 Tony Awards

Cynthia Erivo opened the 2025 Tony Awards with more than just talent and stage presence—she brought heart, history, and a viral moment full circle. Before she even hit the stage at Radio City Music Hall on June 8, Erivo had a mini backstage sequence where she ran into a few folks offering unsolicited advice. The final person she encountered? Oprah Winfrey. And their brief exchange turned into one of the most talked-about moments of the night.

A Pep Talk Only Oprah Could Deliver

As Erivo prepared to step on stage and host Broadway’s biggest night, she paused and asked Oprah, “What do you do when everyone is telling you what you need to do?”

Oprah, always the calm voice of wisdom, looked at her and said, “Forget about them, babe! The only thing you need to do is just be yourself.”

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Then came the moment everyone watching couldn’t miss—Oprah reached out her index finger. Without hesitation, Erivo gently grasped it. A knowing smile passed between them. For fans paying attention, it wasn’t just sweet. It was a full-on tribute to the viral moment from last year’s Wicked press tour.

The Original Moment That Started It All

Back in November 2024, Erivo and Ariana Grande sat down for an interview promoting Wicked. During a heartfelt question from Out journalist Tracy Gilchrist about how the LGBTQ+ community connects to the song “Defying Gravity,” Erivo’s expression shifted. She looked emotional, maybe even on the verge of tears.

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Grande, sitting beside her, didn’t say a word. Instead, she reached over and grabbed Erivo’s index finger, softly tapping it with her long acrylic nail. It was subtle, intimate, and completely unscripted.

What followed was a flood of recreations, memes, and admiration across social media. Fans felt seen in that moment. It became a shared experience—one of empathy, support, and friendship.

Oprah Joins the Legacy with Her Own Touch

The fact that Oprah mimicked that exact motion during the Tonys didn’t go unnoticed. It wasn’t just a cute gesture—it was acknowledgment. It was Oprah holding space for Erivo the same way Ariana did months before.

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And the crowd loved it. The cameras caught the warmth, the timing, and the connection between the two women. In just a few seconds, Oprah paid tribute to Erivo’s vulnerability and strength, and to a moment that had already meant so much to fans.

A Finger, A Friend, and a Full-Circle Moment

Ariana later shared in a Variety interview that she didn’t plan the original gesture. “I just thought maybe she needed something,” she said. Even she didn’t fully understand the nail tapping—Erivo joked it was “tension.” But whatever it was, it became something fans deeply resonated with.

At the 2025 Tony Awards, Oprah didn’t just give Erivo encouragement. She brought back that entire wave of meaning with one small, perfect gesture. And like the first time, the world noticed.