On November 13, 2023, during the premiere of “Wicked: For Good” at Universal Studios Singapore, singer Ariana Grande faced a distressing encounter when a fan breached security and grabbed her on the yellow brick road carpet. Grande, who portrays Glinda in the highly anticipated film, was walking alongside co-stars Cynthia Erivo, Michelle Yeoh, and Jeff Goldblum when the incident occurred.
Multiple videos shared across social media captured the unsettling moment. As Grande was making her way along the carpet, a man wearing a white shirt and shorts suddenly dashed towards her. With long black hair streaked with blue, he wrapped an arm around Grande, prompting her to instinctively pull away. Immediately, Erivo, who plays Elphaba in the film, intervened by rushing towards them and placing herself between Grande and the intruder while vocally confronting him.
Security personnel quickly responded, escorting the man from the area and restoring calm to the event. Footage circulating online shows Grande appearing visibly shaken, taking deep breaths as Erivo and Yeoh offered comfort in the aftermath of the incident.
The individual involved has been identified as Johnson Wen, known online as “Pyjama Man.” He later shared his own video of the encounter on Instagram, expressing gratitude with the caption: “Dear Ariana Grande, thank you for letting me jump on the yellow carpet with you.”
Witnesses reported that Wen attempted to approach Grande multiple times before finally being removed from the scene. One user, Diana Daytona, who posted additional footage, expressed her frustration, stating, “I’m so mad. This is so scary… and he even tried another time before he was finally kicked out.”
Fans took to social media in response, sharing their concerns for Grande’s safety. Comments ranged from critiques of the security response, with one fan noting, “Security was WAY too slow,” to expressions of alarm about the incident, with another remarking, “Moments like this are scary.”
The incident highlights important discussions around the safety of public figures at events and the measures needed to protect them. As Grande continues to promote her work in the film industry, this alarming encounter serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of celebrity interactions with fans.
