Cynthia Erivo Defends Ariana Grande at 'Wicked' Premiere, Faces Unexpected Reaction

Cynthia Erivo discussed her experience defending Ariana Grande at the Wicked: For Good premiere in Singapore and the subsequent public reaction. The incident involved an intruder approaching Grande on the red carpet, leading to the man being jailed and banned from Singapore.

Incident Details

In November 2025, Erivo intervened when Jonathan Wen attempted to rush Ariana Grande during the film's premiere. Erivo described her immediate reaction as necessary to protect Grande, noting that Wen wouldn't release his grip on her.

Public Reaction and Impact

The episode led to jokes and memes portraying Erivo as Grande's bodyguard, which she found troubling due to perceived stereotypes. She spoke about how this played into views of Black women and expressed concern about how her actions were interpreted.

Erivo reflected on how the event affected her decision not to campaign for an Oscar for her role in Wicked: For Good. She felt misunderstood and didn't want to engage in a process that overlooked her humanity.

Future Plans

The actress hinted at reluctance to participate in another Wicked movie. Despite multiple nominations for the first installment, the sequel received none, which may have influenced her view on continuing with the series.