Actress Cynthia Erivo has received widespread praise after protecting her Wicked: For Good co-star Ariana Grande during a shocking incident at the film’s premiere in Singapore.
A video shared online shows Erivo quickly stepping in after a man breached the barricades and grabbed Grande on the red carpet.
Erivo immediately moved between the man and Grande. She pushed him away before security officers reached the pair.
Grande appeared visibly shaken by the incident. However, Erivo stayed close to her and helped protect her from further contact.
Fans quickly praised Erivo across social media.
“Not Cynthia doing a better job than security,” one person commented on TikTok.
Another fan wrote, “The anger on Cynthia’s face! She was READY to fight for her girl.”
Erivo later discussed the incident during a screening in Los Angeles. She explained that she reacted without thinking because she wanted to keep her friend safe.
“I wasn’t really thinking. I just wanted to make sure my friend was safe,” Erivo said.
In an interview with Channel News Asia, she also spoke about her friendship with Grande. Erivo said the film helped them grow as “people, as friends, as sisters”.
Pyjama Man
Authorities later identified the man as Johnson Wen, a social media personality known as “Pyjama Man”.
Wen faced a public nuisance charge following the incident. Reports also said he had carried out similar stunts at other high-profile events.
Meanwhile, Grande thanked fans in Singapore through a message on Instagram.
“Thank you, Singapore. We love you,” she wrote.
Wicked: For Good arrived in cinemas on November 21. The film serves as the emotional conclusion to the story of Elphaba and Glinda.
Jon M. Chu directed the sequel. The story continues after the events of the first Wicked film.
Elphaba now lives in exile and faces public hatred as the Wicked Witch of the West. She continues fighting for the freedom of Oz’s silenced animals while trying to reveal the truth about the Wizard.
Meanwhile, Glinda enjoys fame and status in Emerald City. The public adores her, but she remains troubled by her separation from Elphaba.
The incident involving Grande added an unexpected moment to the film’s promotional tour. Erivo’s quick response also highlighted the close friendship between the two stars.
