Ariana Grande faced a frightening moment on the red carpet Thursday at the Singapore premiere of Wicked: For Good, when a fan suddenly rushed toward her.
Videos from the event show Grande, portraying Glinda, walking alongside costars Cynthia Erivo, Michelle Yeoh, and Jeff Goldblum at Universal Studios Singapore. A man wearing a white shirt and shorts sprinted at Grande and grabbed her around the shoulders, forcing her to recoil.
Cynthia Erivo Leaps to Protect Grande
Quickly reacting, Erivo, who plays Elphaba, stepped between Grande and the man, appearing to shout at him as security intervened. Yeoh also moved closer, offering comfort while Grande took several deep breaths, visibly shaken by the encounter.
The man was later identified as Johnson Wen, who goes by “Pyjama Man” online. Wen has made a name for himself crashing celebrity events, including a 2025 stage intrusion at Katy Perry’s show and a disruption at a Weeknd concert. On Instagram, he posted a video of the incident, captioned: “Dear Ariana Grande, Thank You for letting me Jump on the Yellow Carpet with You ❤️.”
A Painful Reminder for Grande
The incident likely stirred difficult memories for Grande, who has spoken openly about surviving the 2017 Manchester concert bombing, which killed 22 people. In a 2018 British Vogue interview, she revealed the lasting impact of PTSD and anxiety, describing the challenge of discussing her experience without breaking down.
She has also shared her ongoing struggles with anxiety, noting it peaked following her tour in 2017. Grande’s openness about her mental health has been widely praised and underscores the gravity of unexpected public confrontations.
A Reminder of Security Challenges
Incidents like this highlight the unpredictable nature of red carpet events and the importance of security measures for high-profile figures. Grande’s colleagues’ swift actions, particularly Erivo’s protective intervention, helped prevent a potentially more serious situation.
