Cynthia Erivo Protects Ariana Grande from Fan Encounter on Wicked Red Carpet
Pop superstar Ariana Grande endured a startling incident during her appearance on the Wicked: For Good red carpet event in Singapore.
Footage circulating widely online captured Grande, 32, making her way down the carpet with fellow cast members Cynthia Erivo and b when an overly enthusiastic individual approached the group. This person embraced Grande, placing an arm around her and excitedly bouncing.
Erivo, 38, promptly intervened with security personnel to disentangle the fan from Grande, who appeared visibly startled by the sudden interaction. Following the event, both Erivo and Yeoh, 63, were observed providing solace to Grande, appearing to inquire about her well-being.
Additional video footage from the same occurrence revealed Erivo distinctly shouting, “Get off her,” at the fan. Subsequently, Erivo and Yeoh continued their red carpet procession, hand-in-hand with Grande.
Grande has remained publicly silent regarding the incident thus far. Us Weekly has contacted her representatives for an official statement.
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Grande, Erivo, and Yeoh have been journeying globally as part of the promotional tour for Wicked: For Good. The film is scheduled for release on Friday, November 21.
“Having the opportunity to perform alongside her, to occupy the same creative space, and to collaborate as a scene partner has been the paramount privilege of my career,” Grande remarked concerning Erivo in a Today interview on Wednesday, November 12. “Not to mention singing with her, the most phenomenal vocalist globally. My life is forever enriched.”
Erivo commented that she and Grande embody “two sides of the same coin” — echoing the dynamic of their Wicked roles, Elphaba and Glinda. The pair also exhibited deep emotion during their Today discussion, particularly when speaking about their bond.
“Therefore, I believe we each possess qualities that the other can appreciate and identify with,” Erivo further explained. “Our honesty with one another is profound.”
Grande recounted a specific vocal performance on set during the same interview, recalling Erivo's vocal praise during her singing.
“She appreciated a vocalization I performed, so as she sang, she exclaimed, ‘Work.’ My reaction was, ‘This is the pinnacle of my existence,’” Grande shared. “It was truly amusing. A memorable moment.”
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Erivo acknowledged her inability to restrain her enthusiasm.
“I find it challenging to hold back,” Erivo responded. “Should I hear or witness something she performs that genuinely impresses me, I feel compelled to articulate my appreciation verbally.”
The acclaimed actresses have openly showcased their profound bond to their followers, even inspiring a popular internet meme (“holding space,” perhaps?) during the initial Wicked promotional circuit last year.
“My intention was simply to console Cynthia because she was experiencing strong emotions, and as we are both very tactile, I reached for her finger,” Grande explained regarding the instance on The Graham Norton Show in January. “I felt at a loss for how to channel my feelings. … It was an excess of energy that I struggled to manage, manifesting in that gesture because it was borne of good intentions, and I wished to be supportive and affectionate towards her.”
Grande concluded, “As for why that specific action? I honestly have no idea.”
