[Watch] Cynthia Erivo Steps In to Shield Ariana Grande from Aggressive Fan at Wicked Premiere
Things got tense at the Wicked: For Good premiere when a fan suddenly rushed at Ariana Grande on the red carpet.
Footage from the event shows the fan running toward Grande and putting his arm around her, almost knocking her off balance. Before security could react, Cynthia Erivo quickly stepped in to protect her co-star, pushing the man away.
Michelle Yeoh, who was standing nearby, also reached out to hold Grande’s hand, helping her stay steady as the crowd gasped in shock. The man’s behavior stunned everyone, including Grande, who looked visibly startled by the unexpected encounter.
Once Erivo pushed the fan off, security staff immediately moved in, pulling the man away from the stars and escorting him off the carpet.
Cynthia Erivo protects Ariana Grande from a ‘Wicked: For Good’ premiere attendee. pic.twitter.com/XQBeQJWZsI
— Pop Base (@PopBase) November 13, 2025
The incident happened during the global premiere of Wicked: For Good, the highly anticipated sequel to Wicked. The film, directed by Jon M. Chu and written by Winnie Holzman and Dana Fox, continues the story of Elphaba and Glinda in the Land of Oz.
Both Erivo and Grande return to their leading roles as Elphaba and Glinda, alongside Jonathan Bailey, Ethan Slater, Bowen Yang, Marissa Bode, Michelle Yeoh, and Jeff Goldblum. The movie follows the two witches as they fully embrace their identities — the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good, while exploring events that run parallel to The Wizard of Oz.
Return to the magical world of Oz ✨ Get your tickets NOW for Wicked: For Good https://t.co/ZusjT6MqoA pic.twitter.com/AWAecXYKZ5
— Wicked: For Good (@wickedmovie) October 8, 2025
Wicked: For Good had its premiere in São Paulo, Brazil, on November 4, before heading to London for the international event where the incident occurred. Universal Pictures plans to release the film in the United States on November 21.
The film’s production took years to come together. After being announced in 2012, it went through several delays before Chu signed on to direct. Filming began in 2022 but was paused in 2023 because of the SAG-AFTRA strike. Production resumed and finished in early 2024.
Despite the shocking moment on the red carpet, both Erivo and Grande continued posing for photos later in the evening, showing professionalism and calm after the scare.
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