Actress Cynthia Erivo has broken her silence about the frightening incident where her co-star Ariana Grande was ambushed by an intruder during the Singapore premiere of Wicked: For Good last week.
The Red Carpet Ambush
The terrifying event unfolded last Thursday at Universal Studios Singapore. As Ariana Grande, who plays Glinda, walked the red carpet, she was suddenly accosted by self-proclaimed online troll Johnson Wen, known as 'Pyjama Man'.
In a video that spread rapidly online, Wen can be seen breaching security, lunging at Grande, and wrapping his arm around her as she visibly struggled to pull away from the unwanted contact.
Cynthia Erivo's Heroic Intervention
Witnessing the attack, Cynthia Erivo, who portrays Elphaba, demonstrated lightning-fast reflexes. She immediately intervened, shouting at Wen while physically placing herself between him and her terrified co-star.
Erivo's quick actions preceded security personnel tackling the intruder and dragging him off the carpet, leaving a shaken Grande to continue with the premiere proceedings.
Aftermath and Legal Consequences
Following the ambush, Johnson Wen compounded the offence by uploading an eerie selfie to social media, featuring manic eyes and a caption bragging, 'I finally met Ariana Grande tonight.'
His actions have had serious legal repercussions. On Monday, Wen was sentenced to nine days in jail by a Singaporean court. Prosecutors labelled him a 'serial intruder', and District Judge Christopher Goh noted Wen had planned the disturbing move specifically to gain social media attention.
Fans worldwide praised Erivo's protective instincts, flooding social media with memes comparing her heroics to Kevin Costner's role in The Bodyguard. One fan commented on Instagram, 'That’s a true friend. She didn’t even think for herself she sprung to protect.'
Reflecting on the Ordeal
Despite the traumatic event, both actresses continued their promotional tour for the film. At a Screen Actors Guild screening in Los Angeles on Saturday, Erivo addressed the incident indirectly while speaking about the film's message.
'What's even more wonderful is the fact that there are other people who have seen themselves in this movie, in that character, and also now see themselves and feel safe,' Erivo stated. She then acknowledged the recent challenges, saying, 'I mean, f**k, even this last week. Let's be honest, for f**k's sakes, we've had to really deal with some stuff, and this movie has allowed us to really grow as people, as friends, as sisters, as artists, as actresses.'
The incident has sparked broader conversations about celebrity safety and red carpet security protocols at major events.
