Ariana Grande’s red carpet appearance at the Wicked: For Good premiere in Singapore took a terrifying turn when an overzealous fan breached security and grabbed the star — prompting her co-star Cynthia Erivo to rush to her defense.
The shocking incident occurred during the Asia-Pacific premiere at Universal Studios Singapore, where the 32-year-old pop icon was greeting fans and posing for cameras to promote the highly anticipated musical adaptation.
In the viral video, posted by social media user Johnson Wen — who goes by Pyjama Man online — the man can be seen climbing over a barrier and sprinting toward the red carpet.
Ignoring security staff and knocking into a cameraman, he lunges forward and wraps his arm around Grande’s shoulders.
Visibly startled, Ariana gasps as the fan clings to her, smiling and jumping up and down while pointing at the singer. The stunned star appears shaken as the situation quickly unfolds.
Within moments, Wicked co-star Cynthia Erivo, 38, intervenes. She can be seen stepping protectively between Grande and the intruder, helping security pull him away from the singer.
Eyewitnesses described the moment as “chaotic” but praised Erivo for her quick thinking and calm under pressure.
Following the incident, fans were outraged on social media, slamming the man’s behavior and questioning the security arrangements at such a high-profile event.
“This is completely unacceptable — celebrities should feel safe at premieres,” one user commented on X (formerly Twitter). Another added, “Thank goodness for Cynthia. She protected Ariana like a true friend.”
Wen later shared the footage on his Instagram account, writing:
“Dear Ariana Grande, thank you for letting me jump on the yellow carpet with you.”
His post was met with widespread criticism, with fans labeling the act “disturbing,” “invasive,” and “disrespectful.”
The frightening moment comes years after Grande endured one of the most traumatic experiences of her life — the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing that killed 22 people during her concert.
Speaking to British Vogue, the No Tears Left to Cry singer previously admitted that she still struggles to discuss the attack without crying.
“It’s hard to talk about because so many people suffered such tremendous loss,” she said. “I don’t think I’ll ever know how to talk about it and not cry.”
The star later paid tribute to the victims by getting a bee tattoo — Manchester’s symbol — behind her ear, and held a candlelit vigil on the first anniversary of the attack.
The Wicked world tour continues
Despite the unsettling encounter, Ariana appeared composed later in the evening as she continued her promotional duties for Wicked: For Good, the second and final part of the musical film series.
The Singapore premiere followed a spectacular European debut in London earlier in the week, where Grande and Erivo dazzled fans at Leicester Square. The venue was transformed into the Wonderful World of Oz — complete with a yellow brick carpet in place of the traditional red.
The duo, starring as Glinda (Grande) and Elphaba (Erivo), held hands and posed for photos, showcasing their close bond both on and off-screen.
Director Jon M. Chu has described their chemistry as “pure magic,” and early buzz surrounding Wicked: For Good suggests it could become one of the biggest musical releases of 2025.
While the red carpet incident understandably left Ariana rattled, sources close to the singer say she remains focused on celebrating her new film and connecting with fans safely.
Security has reportedly been reinforced at upcoming promotional events to prevent similar breaches.
For many supporters, Cynthia Erivo’s brave response cemented her not only as a powerhouse performer but also as a loyal friend — proving that in the world of Oz, even Glinda gets a real-life guardian angel.