A frightening moment unfolded at the Wicked: For Good premiere in Singapore on Thursday (November 13, 2025) evening when a man jumped the barricade and rushed toward Ariana Grande, prompting her co-star Cynthia Erivo to immediately step in as a protector.
The incident occurred at Universal Studios Singapore as Grande walked the yellow carpet alongside Erivo, Michelle Yeoh, and Jeff Goldblum. Videos captured from multiple angles show the fan, dressed in a white shirt and shorts, suddenly leaping over the barricade and sprinting directly toward Grande. Within seconds, he grabbed the singer around the shoulders and began jumping up and down.
Erivo’s response was instantaneous. The Tony Award-winning actress lunged toward the altercation, placing herself between Grande and the fan while appearing to shout at him. Her protective instincts kicked in faster than the surrounding security team, who quickly moved in to remove the individual from the carpet.
Grande appeared visibly shaken by the breach, taking deep breaths as both Erivo and Yeoh moved to comfort her. The three stars had been walking arm-in-arm moments before the incident, greeting fans on both sides of the barricades.
Cynthia Erivo protects Ariana Grande from a ‘Wicked: For Good’ premiere attendee. pic.twitter.com/XQBeQJWZsI
— Pop Base (@PopBase) November 13, 2025
The fan was later identified as Johnson Wen, who goes by the social media handle Pyjamamann. He posted a video of the encounter on Instagram, writing, “Dear Ariana Grande Thank You for letting me Jump on the Yellow Carpet with You.” His account reveals a troubling pattern of similar incidents, including rushing the stage during performances by Katy Perry and The Weeknd.
The protective moment between Erivo and Grande comes as no surprise to those familiar with their close friendship. The pair has repeatedly emphasized their commitment to caring for each other throughout the Wicked filming process.
“From the moment we met, our first talk, we had a really honest agreement and commitment to take care of each other,” Grande previously told Extra. She described feeling “held” throughout the experience, adding, “I’m really proud of us for how genuinely we took care of each other.”
Erivo echoed this sentiment during a Canva event in April, explaining their connection: “There’s a wonderful synergy when you’re working with a person who gets it, and they can look in your eyes and know exactly what you need, when you need it, without you having to say it.”
The premiere tour continues with a final event scheduled in New York on Monday, likely with enhanced security measures following Thursday’s incident.