Cynthia Erivo has spoken out after a fan rushed Ariana Grande on the red carpet at the Singapore premiere of Wicked: For Good. In a candid interview on the Today show Thursday, she explained what was going through her mind during the frightening moment.
A Protective Instinct
Erivo said she wasn’t thinking about herself — her sole concern was Grande’s safety. “I just wanted to make sure my friend was safe,” she told Savannah Guthrie. “I’m sure he didn’t mean us harm, but … you never know with those things, and I wanted to make sure that she was okay. That was my first instinct.”
Footage shared online showed an individual, later identified as Johnson Wen, leaping over a barricade and placing his arms on Grande’s shoulders. Erivo, who co-stars with Grande in the Wicked films, immediately intervened — pushing the man aside and shielding her friend until security arrived.
After the incident, Erivo remained close to Grande, and Michelle Yeoh also rushed in to comfort her. Wen was later arrested and sentenced to nine days in jail for public nuisance.
At a later Q&A, Erivo reflected on how the experience tied into her journey with Grande. “We have come through some s–t. We have come through some stuff … even this last week,” she said. “Let’s be honest, for f–k’s sakes, we’ve had to really deal with some stuff.”
She added that making the film has strengthened their bond: “This movie has allowed us to really grow as people, as friends, as sisters, as artists, as actresses.” Erivo also expressed gratitude for the tight-knit cast: “I’ll miss being in this group of people this constantly … you don’t earn family like this often.”
This isn’t the first time Erivo has defended Grande publicly. She has previously spoken out against online harassment, calling cyberbullying “quite dangerous.” She urged people to “be the counterpoint” to negative voices online, emphasizing that anonymous critics’ opinions should not define one’s self-worth.