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Cynthia Erivo, a celebrated Emmy, Grammy, and Tony Award recipient, recently shared insights into her instinctive response to protect Ariana Grande from an unexpected incident on the red carpet at the “Wicked: For Good” event in Singapore.
While speaking with Savannah Guthrie on “TODAY,” Erivo recounted her spontaneous reaction when a man suddenly approached Grande during the premiere. Erivo, who stars alongside Grande as Glinda in the film, expressed that her immediate concern was for her friend’s safety.
“My mind was on ensuring Ariana was safe,” Erivo explained, reflecting on the situation. “I reacted without thinking; I just wanted to protect her. Although the man might not have intended any harm, you can’t be certain in such situations. My first instinct was to ensure her well-being.”
This incident unfolded at the Singapore debut of the “Wicked” sequel, where a man bypassed security on the yellow carpet to confront Grande. Acting swiftly, Erivo, along with co-star Michelle Yeoh, stepped in to console Grande. The individual, identified as Johnson Wen, was subsequently arrested and charged with public disturbance. According to the BBC, he was found guilty and received a nine-day prison sentence.
During the Singapore premiere of the “Wicked” sequel, a man jumped past security on the yellow carpet and ambushed Grande. Erivo immediately launched into action and comforted Grande, along with co-star Michelle Yeoh. The man, later identified as Johnson Wen, was arrested and charged with public nuisance, according to the BBC. He was found guilty and sentenced to nine days in prison.
Wen is a social media personality known for ambushing celebrities on stage. He has interripted shows of multiple musicians including Katy Perry, The Weeknd and The Chainsmokers.
Grande has not publicly commented on the incident, but her co-star Marissa Bode, who plays Nessarose Thropp in the “Wicked” film, addressed the issue on TikTok.
Erivo also spoke about how close she and Grande have become during the filming and promotion of the films.
“This is a long-lasting friendship for us,” Erivo said. “We’re kind of like sisters at this moment. And I think we’ve both learned from each other and given each other some really, really beautiful gifts. We’ve really looked after each other through this.”