Actress Cynthia Erivo has been widely praised after she instinctively jumped in to protect her Wicked: For Good co-star Ariana Grande during a shocking incident at the film’s premiere in Singapore.
A video circulated online showing Erivo immediately moving to shield Grande when a man breached barricades and grabbed the singer on the red carpet.
She intervened decisively and pushed the man away before security could respond, all while Grande appeared visibly shaken.
Fans and onlookers flooded social media with support for Erivo’s actions.
“Not Cynthia doing a better job than security,” one commented on a TikTok post.
“The anger on Cynthia’s face! She was READY to fight for her girl,” another reacted.
Erivo later reflected on the incident during a screening in Los Angeles, saying: “I wasn’t really thinking. I just wanted to make sure my friend was safe.”
In a heartfelt interview with Channel News Asia, she also emphasised how the movie has helped her and Grande grow not just as workmates, but as “people, as friends, as sisters”.
Pyjama Man
The man involved was later identified as Johnson Wen, a social media personality known as ‘Pyjama Man’, who was charged with public nuisance following the incident.
Reported statements suggest Wen has a history of similar stunts at high-profile events.
Meanwhile, Grande offered a message of gratitude, posting on Instagram: “Thank you, Singapore. We love you.”
Wicked: For Good was released in theatres on November 21, promising an epic and emotional conclusion to the story of Elphaba and Glinda.
The movie is directed by Jon Chu.
Picking up where the first film left off, Wicked: For Good finds Elphaba living in exile, demonised as the Wicked Witch of the West while she continues her fight for the freedom of Oz’s silenced animals and plots to expose the truth about the Wizard.
Elsewhere, Glinda enjoys fame and status in Emerald City, adored by the masses but haunted by her estrangement from Elphaba.
Angelica N. Hall 
Shameeka Voyiya