Cynthia Erivo has won praise for stepping in to shield Ariana Grande from an unexpected fan encounter at the Wicked: For Good premiere, turning heads both for her bravery and her loyalty.
The incident unfolded on Thursday, 13 November, as the cast of Wicked walked the yellow carpet at Universal Studios Singapore. Stars Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Michelle Yeoh, and Jeff Goldblum were in attendance when a man — identified as Johnson Wen, also known online as @pyjamamann — jumped a fan barrier and rushed towards Grande.
Footage circulating on social media shows the moment the cast was posing for photos when Wen broke through security and threw his arm around Grande’s shoulders, jumping up and down next to her.
“Let go of her”
As the man reached Grande, Erivo — dressed in a dramatic black lace gown — was quick to react. Alongside Michelle Yeoh, she noticed the disturbance and swiftly intervened, reportedly telling Wen to “let go of her” before security could separate the two.
The encounter, while lasting only seconds, visibly shook Grande, who was wearing a powder blue, Cinderella-style gown. At the time, she had been facing away from the direction Wen approached, engaging with fans.
Immediately after security pulled Wen away, Erivo and Yeoh rushed to comfort Grande. Erivo embraced her from behind as Grande appeared to reassure security she was unhurt. Other footage shows Wen being pinned to the ground by four men as the cast gradually resumed their red carpet walk.
@nostalgicpopculturex Cynthia NOT-ON-MY-WATCH Erivo ladies and gentlemen #wickedforgood #arianagrande #cynthiaerivo #celebritynews ♬ original sound – Ellen | Pop Culture ✨
Shock and Support
Fans and onlookers expressed outrage over the incident, with many calling the behaviour “unacceptable” and “highly inappropriate.” One fan described it as “crazy,” while others praised Erivo’s quick response and fierce protectiveness.
“Cynthia don’t play about her bestie,” one TikTok commenter wrote, admiring her fast reaction.
Another supporter cheered, “GO CYNTHIA GOOOO,” and others crowned her a “queen” for stepping in.
Grande’s fans also pointed out the potentially traumatic nature of the incident, especially given the singer’s well-known struggles with PTSD following the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing.
The Fan’s History
Wen, who posted footage of the encounter on both his Instagram profile and stories, claimed in advance that he had been “dreaming” of meeting Grande. He later laughed about the situation and shared clips of himself being detained, also posting: “I’m free after being arrested.”
Many social media users condemned his actions, with one commenter writing “shame on you!” — a sentiment echoed by others across various platforms.
This is not Wen’s first such stunt. He has previously interrupted performances by Katy Perry (June), The Weeknd (August), and The Chainsmokers (last December).
While Grande continued with the event after the disruption, her fans and friends — especially Cynthia Erivo — made it clear that safety and solidarity come first.
