Cynthia Erivo is Ariana Grande’s friend for good, and will protect her from the bad.
Case in point, the Tony winner went into bodyguard mode at the Wicked: For Good premiere in Singapore when the “eternal sunshine” singer was accosted by a fan.
In videos shared across social media, Ariana walked arm-in-arm with Cynthia, as well as fellow Wicked costar Michelle Yeoh down a line of fans, with barricades on both sides. After the 31-year-old blew kisses to a fan on her right, another young man jumped the barricade on her left side and ran up and wrapped his arm around her, jumping up and down.
Cynthia quickly stepped in and tore the individual off of her pal, as bodyguards who surrounded the women took the young man away, and Cynthia and Michelle focused on comforting Ariana. The Grammy winner recovered as Cynthia kept her arm wrapped around her, and continued walking down the yellow carpet.
Later, the fan, who goes by Pyjama Man on his social media, confirmed his identity as Ariana’s attacker, sharing in a Nov. 13 Instagram Story, “I am free after being arrested.”