Nigerian-British actress Cynthia Erivo has spoken out against the online backlash and jokes that followed a viral red-carpet incident in which she stepped in to protect her Wicked co-star Ariana Grande from a fan who rushed toward the singer during a public appearance.
The incident took place at the Singapore premiere of Wicked: For Good, where an overzealous fan suddenly breached security and grabbed Ariana Grande on the red carpet. The moment sparked widespread attention online after videos circulated showing the tense encounter. The man involved was later reported to have been sentenced to nine days in prison.
In her response, Erivo explained that her reaction was purely instinctive, driven by fear and concern for her co-star’s safety. She described how the situation unfolded rapidly, with no immediate response from security or bystanders.
“Nobody moved. Nobody moved,” she said. “So I moved because my brain went, ‘Get him away! Get him out of here!’ My immediate reaction was, ‘Get him away from us.’”
Erivo emphasised that the man refused to let go of Ariana Grande, forcing her to intervene more forcefully in order to protect her colleague.
“What people couldn’t see is that he wouldn’t let go of Grande. He wouldn’t let go. So I just kept pushing at him to get him off,” she explained.
She further highlighted the importance of personal boundaries and safety, stating that public figures are still entitled to their personal space despite their fame.
“A stranger is a stranger. Personal space is still personal space. It doesn’t belong to anyone, even if you feel you know the person. In that moment, we were all terrified,” she said.
Following the viral spread of the footage, some social media users mocked Erivo’s actions, joking about her appearance and suggesting she acted like a “bodyguard” for Ariana Grande. The actress, however, criticised the reaction, noting that it dismissed a serious and frightening situation.
Erivo said the online commentary reflected deeper issues, particularly the way Black women are often stereotyped and misrepresented in public discourse. She described the backlash as “insidious,” pointing out how a moment of protection was reduced to humour rather than acknowledged as a response to danger.
The actress added that the experience was a reminder of how quickly narratives can be distorted online, especially when full context is missing from viral moments.
