Ariana Grande experienced a frightening interruption during what was meant to be a celebratory night, when a man rushed her on the yellow carpet at the Wicked: For Good premiere event in Singapore on Thursday, November 13. The pop star and actor, 31, who plays Glinda in the highly anticipated big-screen adaptation of the Broadway musical, had been posing for photos with costars Cynthia Erivo, Michelle Yeoh, and Jeff Goldblum when the incident unfolded in front of photographers and fans.
Clips shared widely on social media show a man in a white T-shirt and shorts sprinting toward Grande and grabbing her as she reacted in shock. Onlookers and press audibly gasped as the chaotic moment briefly halted the event. Security moved in within seconds as the singer took several steadying breaths.
What Happened On The Yellow Carpet
In the viral footage, the intruder appears to wrap an arm around Grande as she attempts to pull away. Erivo quickly positions herself between Grande and the man, raising her voice to call for help. Guards then restrain the individual and escort him off the carpet while the crowd looks on.
Fans online identified the man as social media personality Johnson Wen, who is known on some platforms as "Pyjama Man." After the incident, Wen posted on Instagram, writing, "Dear Ariana Grande Thank You for letting me Jump on the Yellow Carpet with You," alongside clips of the confrontation. Representatives for the event and Grande have not publicly commented at the time of writing.
Grande, visibly shaken, remained at the venue with support from her colleagues. Erivo and Yeoh were seen comforting their costar as the press line paused. The carpet continued after a brief delay, with additional security presence around the principal cast.
Co-Stars Step In As Security Responds
Erivo’s swift response drew praise online as viewers highlighted the Tony winner’s protective move. The actress, who plays Elphaba opposite Grande’s Glinda, immediately intervened, placing herself between Grande and the intruder while urging security to act. Michelle Yeoh and other team members followed to ensure Grande had space to collect herself.
The incident underscores the heightened challenges around fan events and premiere security in the age of ubiquitous social media. Carpet lines are typically staffed with event security, studio publicists, and venue personnel, yet the unpredictable nature of live, open-air arrivals can leave brief windows for disruptions. In this case, the response was rapid, and the man was removed without further escalation.
Previous Event Crashes Linked To The Same Individual
Online observers were quick to point out that Wen has a history of high-profile disruptions. In recent months, he has been filmed attempting to crash major live events, including concerts by Katy Perry and The Weeknd, before being swiftly removed by security teams. Those incidents, also circulated widely on social media, have fueled ongoing conversations about public-figure safety and access at entertainment events.
Studios and venues often review security protocols after such episodes, balancing fan access with talent safety. Measures can include staggered arrivals, reinforced barricades, additional plainclothes security, and tighter credential checks for media and guests. While organizers rarely disclose specifics, the visible step-up in security following Thursday’s disruption reflected a coordinated, immediate response.
Context: Ariana Grande’s History With Trauma
The moment carries additional weight given Grande’s well-documented history with trauma and anxiety stemming from the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing, which killed 22 people during her concert. In a 2018 interview with British Vogue, Grande spoke candidly about the lingering impact of that night, saying, "Yeah, it’s a real thing. I know those families and my fans, and everyone there experienced a tremendous amount of it as well. It’s hard to talk about because so many people have suffered such severe, tremendous loss … I don’t think I’ll ever know how to talk about it and not cry."
Grande has also shared how anxiety remains an ongoing battle, once quipping, "I think a lot of people have anxiety, especially right now … My anxiety has anxiety." Thursday’s scare, coming in a public, high-pressure setting, understandably left the star rattled. The quick intervention by costars and security helped stabilize the situation, allowing the premiere event to proceed.
Wicked’s Global Spotlight — And Why This Moment Matters
Wicked’s big-screen arrival is among the year’s most closely watched film events, uniting a powerhouse cast and a beloved musical with a massive global fanbase. The yellow carpet nods to the franchise’s Emerald City mythology, and the Singapore event was designed as a celebratory stop highlighting the film’s international reach.
That celebratory atmosphere was momentarily upended by the intrusion, but it also offered a clear reminder of the stakes and responsibilities that accompany modern blockbuster publicity. Publicists, venue staff, and security teams choreograph these arrivals down to the minute; still, incidents can occur in seconds. Thursday’s reaction — swift, coordinated, and focused on the well-being of the talent — is likely to be seen as a model of best practices under pressure.
For Grande, the night ultimately centered back on the work at hand. As Glinda, she headlines one of the most anticipated musical roles to hit the screen in years, opposite Erivo’s Elphaba and supported by an ensemble that includes Michelle Yeoh and Jeff Goldblum. While the disruption briefly overshadowed the festivities, the cast’s unity and the immediate security response helped restore focus to the film, its fans, and the celebration of a landmark adaptation.
Authorities in Singapore have not released further details related to the on-carpet incident. No additional disturbances were reported at the event following the man’s removal.
