Cynthia Erivo has opened up for the first time about the frightening moment she intervened to protect her co‑star Ariana Grande, after a man rushed the carpet during the Singapore premiere of Wicked: For Good.
The incident occurred on 13 November at Universal Studios Singapore, where Grande, Erivo, Michelle Yeoh, and Jeff Goldblum were walking a yellow‑brick‑road-themed red carpet. Video footage shows a man, later identified as Johnson Wen (also known online as “Pyjama Man”), suddenly vaulting over a barricade, sprinting across the red carpet and grabbing Grande by the shoulders. The actress appeared stunned as Erivo — who plays Elphaba in the Wicked films — leapt into action. She placed herself between Grande and the intruder, shouting, pushing him back and physically separating him from her friend, while Michelle Yeoh wrapped her arms around Grande to help.
Witnesses and video show security eventually intervening, removing the man from the carpet. In the aftermath, Erivo and Yeoh comforted Grande with reassuring gestures, visibly shaken by what had happened. The man was later arrested and charged with being a public nuisance. Sources say he has a history of similar stunts at celebrity events.
A few days ago, Cynthia Erivo spoke up for the first time since the incident. She told TODAY: “I wasn’t really thinking, I just wanted to make sure everyone was safe. I’m sure he didn’t mean us harm, but you never know with those things... I wanted to make sure she was okay. That was my first instinct.”
Erivo described her bond with Grande in her interview: “This is a long‑lasting friendship for us … We’re kind of like sisters … and I think we’ve both learned from each other … We’ve really looked after each other through this.” Her reaction was praised online as courageous and instinctive — a protective act that likely averted a worse outcome.
The fallout from the incident has stirred wider discussion about security at red carpet events, especially given Grande’s past trauma: she survived the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing and has spoken publicly about its lasting emotional impact. For many, seeing her disturbed by such a breach of safety triggered concern and outrage.
Wen later posted about the incident on his social media, thanking Grande for letting him “jump on the yellow carpet.” But his words earned him almost unanimous criticism, with fans condemning the reckless and invasive behaviour.
Erivo’s response to the moment — her bravery, her protective instincts, and her willingness to speak out — has only strengthened her reputation. Rather than dismissing what occurred as a freak occurrence, she has framed it as a reminder: even glamour-filled premieres must never come at the expense of personal safety.
