Cynthia Erivo Speaks Up After Ariana Grande Red Carpet Scare: ‘We Have Come Through Some Shit’
An aggressive fan forced Grande into an embrace during the Wicked: For Good premiere in Singapore last week
By Emily Zemler
Cynthia Erivo reflected on the journey she and Ariana Grande have taken with Wicked and Wicked: For Good during a special Screen Actors Guild screening held at the Television Academy in Los Angeles over the weekend.
During the event, Erivo referenced an incident that occurred last week at the sequel’s premiere in Singapore, where an aggressive fan jumped onto the red carpet and pulled Grande into an unwanted embrace. Erivo reacted quicker than the crew of security guards surrounding them, shoving the man away from her co-star and checking that she wasn’t hurt.
“What’s even more wonderful is the fact that there are other people who have seen themselves in this movie, in that character, and also now see themselves and feel safe,” Erivo said of her character Elphaba. “That, for me, is the pinnacle of what I could ever wish for from any piece of work I have ever done. And I am so glad that in order to do it, I had to look into the eyes of this person beside me.”
She continued, “And we have come through some shit. We have come through some stuff in our lives, in our daily workings. I mean, fuck, even this last week. Let’s be honest, for fuck’s sakes, we’ve had to really deal with some stuff, and this movie has allowed us to really grow as people, as friends, as sisters, as artists, as actresses.”
Erivo added of the film, “That is the thing that is special about this piece. And I’ll miss being in this group of people this constantly. Because you don’t get a group of people this close often on a set. You don’t earn family like this often, and we have. Fucking lucky thing to be a part of.”
The man who attacked Grande was quickly identified as 26-year-old Johnson Wen, a self-proclaimed “stage invader” who lives in Australia and goes by the handle Pyjama Man. Wen frequently attends live music and sporting events, where he storms the stage for unauthorized interactions with the performing artists. He has managed to evade security at tours featuring artists including Katy Perry, the Weeknd, and the Chainsmokers.
Wen was charged with public nuisance in Singapore following the incident. According to The Straits Times (one of Singapore’s leading newspapers) Wen appeared in a district court Friday, Nov. 14, via video. Wen reportedly appeared unrepentant about the incident, but still said that he planned to plead guilty to the charge. Wen could face up to three months in jail, a S$2,000 fine (about $1,500 U.S. dollars), or both. His next court date is scheduled for today.