Overview
- Erivo told Variety on May 27 that her friendship with Ariana Grande is real and that they still text almost every day.
- She recounted the November 2025 Singapore premiere when a man rushed the red carpet, grabbed Grande, and she intervened because 'nobody moved.'
- The attacker, identified as Australian Johnson Wen, was arrested, charged with public nuisance, sentenced to nine days in jail, and banned from Singapore venues.
- Erivo said viral memes that labeled her Grande’s 'bodyguard' focused on her baldness and physique and reflected what she called the 'insidious' way Black women are viewed.
- She warned the fallout harmed her well‑being and publicity strategy during awards season and said the long, 400‑day Wicked press cycle left her ready to move on.