The premiere of Wicked: For Good in Singapore took a troubling turn when pop star Ariana Grande was rushed by an over-zealous fan on the yellow-brick carpet, and her co-star Cynthia Erivo sprang into action.
As Grande and Erivo greeted fans at Universal Studios Singapore for the Asia-Pacific premiere, a man breached the barrier and ran toward Grande.He wrapped his arm around her shoulder and pulled her toward him, causing visible shock and disruption.
Erivo immediately intervened, placing herself between the fan and Grande. Security stepped in soon after. According to court documents, the man, identified as Johnson Wen (also known online as “Pyjama Man”), was later charged with being a public nuisance.
Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande’s Bond
Earlier, Erivo had spoken about her bond with Grande. “Before we started shooting, both of us had a conversation about making sure that we would take care of each other,” Erivo said.
After the incident, videos showed Grande visibly shaken as Erivo and fellow cast member Michelle Yeoh comforted her.
Singapore authorities said Wen jumped a barricade and rushed the carpet at the film premiere. He wrapped Grande in an embrace before Erivo intervened.
Grande has been open about her ongoing struggles with trauma and anxiety following the 2017 Manchester concert attack. The incident underscores growing concern among celebrities and event organisers about disruptive fan behaviour at high-profile events.
Wen, the alleged intruder, later posted a video of his stunt on social media with the caption: “Dear Ariana Grande Thank You for letting me Jump on the Yellow Carpet with You.”
Court papers show he faces possible penalties including a fine or jail time for public nuisance.