The world premiere of Wicked: For Good – the long-awaited sequel to the film adaptation of the hit musical – was marred by a tense moment when a fan managed to jump over security fences and approach Ariana Grande, one of the film’s leading ladies.
The incident occurred during the yellow carpet of the event, where the singer and actress was posing for international media with her co-stars Michelle Yeoh, Jeff Goldblum and Cynthia Erivo.
As Ariana advanced down the carpet to greet attendees and reporters, a young man later identified as Jhonson Wen – known on networks as Pajama Man –circumvented security measures, jumped the fences and abruptly grabbed the artist’s arm.
Visibly upset, he began to jump up and down with excitement next to her, without measuring the impact of his performance or the vulnerability of the singer in a public space.
The moment was captured by multiple cameras and quickly went viral on social networks, as Ariana’s bewildered reaction clearly showed the surprise and discomfort she experienced in those seconds of tension.
Cynthia Erivo’s quick intervention to protect Ariana Grande
British actress Cynthia Erivo, Ariana’s co-star and star of the saga in the role of Elphaba, reacted immediately to the incident. Without a second thought, she intervened to separate the young man from Ariana’s arm, placing herself between the two and pushing him away with determination.
Erivo, who has been nominated for a Best Actress Oscar for her portrayal of Harriet Tubman in Harriet and received accolades last year for her work in Wicked, was widely applauded on social media.
Thousands of users highlighted his bravery and speed, celebrating his protective gesture:
“Give Cynthia Erivo an award!”
“We need her as Ariana’s bodyguard.”
“A true act of fellowship.”
His intervention allowed security personnel to act more quickly. The young man was immediately removed from the venue and the production team made sure Ariana was okay before continuing with the gala.
Who is the intruder? Jhonson Wen, a.k.a. Pajama Man
A few hours after the event, users on networks identified the young man as Jhonson Wen, a content creator on Instagram and TikTok famous for disrupting high-profile events and approaching celebrities without authorization.
His background includes breaks in:
The Weeknd concerts,
Katy Perry shows,
and even the final of the 2023 Women’s World Cup.
Their recurrent behavior has caused strong criticism, as it puts at risk both artists and the security teams that must respond immediately to these incidents.
After being briefly arrested at the premiere of Wicked: For Good, Wen posted a story on Instagram in which he wrote, “I’m free after being arrested.”
This message provoked even more annoyance among fans, who consider that his attitude trivializes a situation that could have been dangerous.
So far, neither Ariana Grande nor her team have issued a statement about the incident. However, after the intervention of security personnel and the protection of her colleagues, the actress managed to continue the green carpet with professionalism, although visibly affected.
The episode has reopened the debate on security at public events and the need to reinforce protocols to prevent this type of situation from recurring, especially in such crowded premieres and with high-profile figures.
Although the incident raised concerns, the premiere of Wicked: For Good went on as planned. The stars of the musical celebrated the release of one of the most anticipated productions of the year in an event that combined glamour, excitement and, unfortunately, a reminder of the risks associated with fame.
Cynthia Erivo’s performance and the quick reaction of security personnel ensured that the scare did not escalate, allowing the night to continue to be dedicated to the talent, music and magical universe of Wicked.
Here you can see the video of what happened with Ariana Grande at the premiere of ‘Wicked 2’.
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