Imagine walking the red carpet, surrounded by fans and cameras, only to be suddenly grabbed by a stranger. This is exactly what happened to Ariana Grande at the Singapore premiere of Wicked: For Good—a terrifying moment that left many questioning the safety of celebrities in public spaces. But here’s where it gets even more shocking: her co-star Cynthia Erivo didn’t hesitate to leap into action, shielding Grande from the man who had rushed toward her. Videos from the event, held at Universal Studios Singapore, show the man—dressed in a white shirt and shorts—sprinting toward Grande as she walked the yellow brick road-themed carpet. He grabbed her, pulling her close, while she struggled to break free. Erivo, who plays Elphaba in the film, swiftly intervened, positioning herself between Grande and the man, appearing to shout at him before security removed him from the area.
Grande, visibly shaken, was comforted by Erivo and fellow co-star Michelle Yeoh. The man was later identified by fans as Johnson Wen, known online as “Pyjama Man,” a notorious figure with a history of crashing celebrity events. In June, he jumped onstage during a Katy Perry performance, and in August, he interrupted a concert by The Weeknd. Wen even posted a video of the incident on Instagram with a bizarre caption: “Dear Ariana Grande, Thank You for letting me Jump on the Yellow Carpet with You.”
And this is the part most people miss: this isn’t just another celebrity encounter gone wrong. Grande has a deeply personal history with trauma, having survived the 2017 Manchester concert bombing that killed 22 people. She has openly discussed her ongoing struggles with PTSD and anxiety, telling British Vogue in 2018, “It’s hard to talk about because so many people have suffered such severe, tremendous loss. I feel like I shouldn’t even be talking about my own experience—like I shouldn’t even say anything. I don’t think I’ll ever know how to talk about it and not cry.”
This latest incident raises critical questions about celebrity safety and the mental health toll of such invasions. Is enough being done to protect public figures from unpredictable fans? And how do we balance accessibility with security in an era where boundaries seem increasingly blurred? Let’s discuss—do you think celebrities deserve more protection, or is this an unavoidable risk of fame? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
