Cynthia Erivo proved she’s more than an award-winning actress, she’s a real-life hero. At Thursday’s Wicked: For Good premiere (Nov. 13) in Singapore, the Tony winner rushed to shield her co-star Ariana Grande when a crazed fan suddenly jumped the barricade and lunged at the pop superstar, eyewitnesses and multiple fan videos show.

The man, later identified as Johnson Wen, climbed over the blockade and sprinted past photographers toward Grande, throwing an arm around her shoulders and jumping up and down as Wicked co-star Michelle Yeoh looked on in alarm. Before security could react, Erivo stepped in, pushing the man away and later comforting Grande in the aftermath.

Cynthia Erivo protects Ariana Grande from a ‘Wicked: For Good’ premiere attendee. pic.twitter.com/XQBeQJWZsI

— Pop Base (@PopBase) November 13, 2025

Fans quickly took to social media to praise Erivo’s swift actions. 

One user wrote, “Cynthia’s reflexes were faster than multiple grown male security. Security needs to hire her immediately.” Another added, “She said, ‘Not on my watch.’”

However, many fans expressed shock that something like this could happen at a high-profile event. 

“How did a fan get that close? Why did Cynthia have to step in?” wrote a fan online. “Security seriously needs to step up…Cynthia shouldn’t have had to play bodyguard.”

The fan, Wen, has reportedly carried out similar stunts with other A-listers including Katy Perry and The Weeknd. He shared a video of the incident on Instagram, captioning it: “Dear Ariana Grande, thank you for letting me jump on the yellow carpet with you ❤️.” Wen later reassured his followers that he was “free after being arrested.”

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Erivo and Grande have formed a close bond since filming Wicked in 2022, frequently making headlines for their affectionate friendship. Grande previously joked to Variety, “[We’re] insufferable, yes… Cynthia is just an absolute brilliant gift of a human being.” Erivo credited “hard conversations” and “vulnerability” for their close relationship in a recent Elle interview, saying, “That’s what makes relationships. Those are the things that make you close.”

Despite the frightening moment, fans are applauding Erivo not just for her quick thinking, but for showing true loyalty and care for her co-star.