Cynthia Erivo Jumps Between Ariana Grande and Fan After Startling Encounter at ‘Wicked: For Good’ Premiere

The global press tour for the highly anticipated sequel Wicked: For Good, starring Ariana Grande as Glinda and Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba, kicked off in early November. The tour has generated a whirlwind of red-carpet glam, international fanfare, and headline-making moments, including a rather horrifying moment between Grande and a crazed fan. Fortunately, Erivo stepped in to protect her bestie as security rushed the group. Later, fans identified the man, realizing that this isn’t the first time he’s terrified an unsuspecting celeb.

‘Wicked: For Good’ star Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo go global

On November 4, 2025, Erivo and other cast members began their press tour in São Paulo, Brazil, marking the very first premiere of the film’s international rollout. Grande was notably absent due to a last-minute safety and maintenance issue with her flight, which she explained via Instagram with a heartfelt apology to her Brazilian fans.

From Brazil, the tour moved to Europe, with the Paris premiere on November 7, 2025, held at Le Grand Rex. Then came London on November 10, 2025, with a major showing at the UK premiere in Leicester Square. Asia was next: The Singapore stop at Universal Studios Singapore on November 13, 2025, featured the cast, yellow-carpet fan events, and heightened security following a dramatic incident in which Erivo moved to protect Grande from an overzealous fan.

As the Wicked: For Good recovers from the scary incident, security will likely step it up at their next stop in New York City on November 17.

A crazed fan reached Ariana Grande at the Singapore premiere before security stepped in

As Ariana Grande walked the yellow carpet at the Singapore premiere of Wicked: For Good, she reached out to fans, shaking their hands and signing autographs. The unsuspecting star didn’t see a young man jump the barrier and run across her path. When Johnson Wen, clad in an oversized white T-shirt and baggy shorts, reached Grande, he pushed up against her and threw his arm around her shoulders, jumping up and down.

Erivo, who’d been walking alongside Grande and their co-star, Michelle Yeoh, jumped into action. She immediately spun around and shoved her arms between the Grande and Wen, pushing her whole body against him to separate him from her friend. Security rushed in — notably slower than Erivo — and grabbed Wen by the shoulders, separating him from the group.

Fans on Reddit were quick to call out security for not noticing Wen in the moments it took for him to jump the barrier and run to Grande. One wrote, “He ruined the premiere and I also blame security. They took too long to react. Also, how did he get there so easily.” Another commented, “[Erivo] was ready to fight. As she should be. Also why was the security so useless?”

Johnson Wen has pulled similar stunts with Katy Perry and The Weeknd

Wen rose to international fame when he made it onto the fields at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup and 2023 Cricket World Cup Final. In 2024, “Pyjama Man,” as he identifies on social media, disrupted several events at the Paris Olympics. The serial intruder pivoted to celebrities in 2025 when he stormed the stage at The Weeknd’s Sydney concert. Next, the Australian man made it onstage at Katy Perry’s Sydney show and gave her quite a fright.

Wen’s Instagram profile describes him as the “2023 WorId Cup FinaI Pitch lnvader” and “Troll Most Hated” ending with the statement “Ariana Grande is the Queen.” According to The Straits Times, the unemployed 25-year-old lives at a backpacker’s hostel and has racked up an estimated $20,000 in fines. His profile also includes a GoFundMe link titled “Gift me, my Friends :).” The description reads, “Hi, I’m Pyjama Man, if you Wish to Donate to me to pay off all my Bills. only if you want to :) & Thanks for your Donations :).”

Many people believe the Australian government should revoke Wen’s passport as he has traveled internationally to disrupt these events. One Reddit user wrote, “Every security firm in the region should be briefed on this guy, especially when representing A-list clients. I hope somebody’s getting fired.” After Wen posted a video of his intrusion on social media, people commented their displeasure. One wrote, “You literally assaulted her. this isn’t a flex, it’s a crime. shame on you!”

Wen’s actions certainly spark conversations about security and privacy for celebrities. Although stars live in the public eye, they deserve to feel safe in public.