Concerts, meet-and-greets, and red-carpet events are fantastic opportunities for fans and artists to connect. That said, some people have little to no respect for their idols, going as far as stalking them, mobbing them in public, or even assaulting them on stage during a performance.
Unfortunately, that’s exactly what happened to Ariana Grande. During the “Wicked: For Good” premiere in Singapore, a man jumped over the barricade and grabbed the superstar before security intervened. Here’s what happened:
It was meant to be an exciting day for fans in Singapore yesterday (Thursday, 13th November), as they gathered to see the stars of “Wicked: For Good” attend the yellow-carpet premiere. However, as soon as the cast members arrived at the venue, a man leapt over the barricade and ran straight towards Ariana Grande, wrapping his arms around her before Cynthia Erivo and security stepped in.
In one video, Cynthia can be heard shouting, “GET OFF HER! GET OFF HER! LET HER GO!” at the man, before security managed to restrain him. Both she and Michelle Yeoh comforted Ariana, who was visibly terrified, making sure she was unharmed. This resulted in other fans being unable to greet their idols, as the cast members were quickly rushed by security to the end of the carpet to distance themselves from the perpetrator, who attempted to run to Ariana the second time. The man was then immediately removed from the scene and was reportedly arrested for trespassing.
Videos of the incident have since circulated on social media, with fans condemning the man for his actions. Many urged for his arrest, while others criticised security for failing to notice the individual sooner, as Cynthia Erivo was the first to react to the situation. Speaking of which, fans praised the Oscar nominee for stepping in without hesitation to protect her friend, who has had past traumatic experiences.
As for the invader, he was later identified as “Pyjama Man”, notorious for invading celebrities’ personal space and jumping on stage during performances or onto the field during sports events. His past victims include Katy Perry and The Weeknd. He showed no remorse over the incident, instead boasting that he had “met” Ariana Grande. Fans have since been mass-reporting his social media accounts and calling for him to be jailed or, at the very least, placed on a watchlist for future events involving celebrities.
At the time of writing, there has been no update on whether any legal action will be taken against “Pyjama Man” following his release from police custody. Thankfully, no one was hurt since the man was unarmed. However, it is hard not to wonder what might have happened if someone with ill intentions had gained access to the stars. Let’s hope for better security for future events.
Watch the incident below:
@wheninmanila Man jumps over the barricade to run to Ariana Grande at the yellow carpet of the “Wicked: For Good” premiere in Singapore. We are so relieved she’s alright! #arianagrande #wickedforgood #wheninmanila
@raphael.sli My first time meeting Ariana Grande was ruined 🥺 a guy rushed to Ari, happened at the WICKED For Good Movie Premiere in Singapore 🇸🇬 #wicked #singapore #arianagrande #cynthiaerivo #viral
Sources: Twitter (1)(2), TikTok (1)(2), StraitsTimes
