Pop superstar Ariana Grande experienced a visible moment of distress during the New York premiere of Wicked: For Good, with a professional lip reader revealing exactly what she said to handlers when overwhelmed by photographers.
The Overwhelming Red Carpet Moment
During the recent New York event, Grande and her co-star Cynthia Erivo were photographed posing for enthusiastic snappers when both actresses appeared to become uncomfortable with the intensity of the attention. Footage from the event shows Grande signalling for assistance from a handler who approached them on the red carpet.
Lip reading expert Jeremy Freeman exclusively informed the Daily Mail that Grande communicated: 'If you could' - while making calming gestures with her hands - 'my anxiety.' Following this intervention, the volume noticeably decreased around the actresses, which Grande acknowledged by appearing to comment: 'This is so peaceful, see?'
Connection to Previous Security Incident
This anxious moment occurred shortly after a concerning security breach at the Singapore premiere of Wicked: For Good, where Australian online prankster Johnson Wen, 26, rushed onto the red carpet and physically approached Grande. The incident reportedly triggered the singer's pre-existing PTSD.
Wen, known as 'Pyjama Man' online, bypassed security at Universal Studios on Thursday and wrapped his arm around Grande as she attempted to pull away. Her co-star Cynthia Erivo immediately intervened, shouting at Wen while positioning herself between him and Grande until security personnel tackled and removed the intruder.
Legal Consequences for Intruder
The Singaporean courts have since taken serious action against Wen, who appeared in court via video link without legal representation and pleaded guilty to public nuisance charges. District Judge Christopher Goh sentenced him to nine days in prison, describing him as 'attention-seeking' and noting he had planned the disturbance to generate social media engagement.
Under Singaporean law, public nuisance offences can carry penalties of up to three months imprisonment and fines reaching $1,540. Prosecutors labelled Wen a 'serial intruder' during proceedings.
Following the sentencing, when asked by Judge Goh if he had anything to say, Wen simply stated: 'I won't do it again, Your Honour.'
Fan Reactions and Mental Health Discussion
Social media responses to Grande's New York premiere experience have shown widespread support for the singer, with many fans recognising the challenges of managing anxiety and PTSD in high-pressure public situations.
One commenter noted: 'Very overstimulating especially for people with anxiety and PTSD,' while another observed: 'Looks like anxiety.' A third supporter wrote: 'queen was just a lil overstimulated,' reflecting understanding of the situation.
The Daily Mail has reached out to representatives for Ariana Grande for comment but has not yet received a response.
