Pop superstar Ariana Grande found herself in a frightening moment on Thursday when a fan breached security at the Singapore premiere of her new film Wicked: For Good and lunged towards her on the yellow-carpet. The fan was quickly pulled away by security, but not before her co-star Cynthia Erivo intervened to physically place herself between the man and Grande, who appeared visibly shaken.
The man has been identified as Australian influencer Johnson Wen (also known as “Pyjama Man”), who has previously disrupted major events including concerts and sports fixtures. At the premiere he reportedly jumped the barricade, ran toward Grande and grabbed her arm as she tried to pull away.
@wheninmanila Man jumps over the barricade to run to Ariana Grande at the yellow carpet of the “Wicked: For Good” premiere in Singapore. We are so relieved she’s alright! #arianagrande #wickedforgood #wheninmanila ♬ original sound - WhenInManila.com
Footage of the incident quickly circulated on social media, prompting widespread concern from fans—especially in Ireland, where Grande has a strong following and audiences recall the Manchester Arena bombing in 2017, in which Grande was performing and which left a lasting impact on her mental-health disclosures.
The moment raises fresh questions about event-security standards and the risks faced by high-profile performers at global premieres. Between her hectic schedule and the demands of the film’s promotion, this incident may have amplified underlying anxiety that Grande has spoken about publicly.
Local Irish fans of Ariana will be hoping she remains safe and supported as she presses on with upcoming appearances, while the film’s promotion continues. The incident may have stunned the red carpet, but the wider audience will be watching how her Irish dates (or any future European schedule) handle security and protect guest talent.
We’ll be keeping an eye on how both Grande’s team and the producers of Wicked respond to this breach—especially given how seriously Irish media and fans regard safety and performer wellbeing in live and promotional settings.
