Ariana Grande faced a tense moment this week at the New York premiere of Wicked: For Good.
Surrounded by a swarm of photographers shouting for attention, the singer appeared visibly overwhelmed.
At one point, both Grande and her co-star Cynthia Erivo signaled to a handler for assistance, highlighting how intense the red carpet environment had become.
Forensic lipreader Jeremy Freeman told the Daily Mail that Grande seemed to say to the photographers, “If you could… my anxiety,” while motioning for them to calm down.
The crowd notably quieted down, giving Grande a brief moment of relief.
“This is so peaceful, see?” she appeared to add, capturing how even a slight reduction in chaos made a difference.
Red Carpet Panic Tied to Past Trauma
The premiere tension comes just days after Grande experienced a frightening fan encounter in Singapore, which reportedly triggered her PTSD.
At that event, Australian prankster Johnson Wen rushed her on the red carpet, prompting security and Erivo to intervene.
Social media quickly highlighted concerns for the singer, with fans commenting on how overwhelming such encounters can be for someone managing anxiety and trauma.
Ariana’s Long Journey with Mental Health
Grande has long been open about her struggles with mental health.
During the making of Sweetener and Thank U, Next, she faced immense personal challenges, including dealing with PTSD from the 2017 Manchester bombing and grieving the loss of her ex Mac Miller to an overdose.
On the Hollywood Reporter Awards Chatter podcast, Grande shared, “I was doing so much therapy, and I was dealing with PTSD and all different kinds of grief and depression and anxiety… having music be a part of that remedy was absolutely contributing to saving my life.”
She poured her pain into Thank U, Next, completing it in just two weeks following her breakup with Pete Davidson.
“They were dark times, and the music brought so much levity… it poured out with urgency, and it was made with urgency, and it was a means of survival,” she explained.
The Singapore Incident and Legal Consequences
The chaotic encounter in Singapore ended with Wen receiving a nine-day jail sentence.
Known online as Pyjama Man, Wen rushed Grande in an attempt to gain social media attention.
Erivo acted quickly to protect her co-star, and security removed Wen from the premises.
During court proceedings, Judge Christopher Goh called Wen a “serial intruder” and highlighted his selfish disregard for others’ safety.
Wen pleaded guilty via video link, with no legal representation, and expressed regret, saying, “I won’t do it again, Your Honour.”
Following the incident, Wen posted videos online, claiming he had “finally met Ariana Grande” and posting maniacal laughter alongside footage of the red carpet ambush.
Fans and the Public React
Fans and onlookers have expressed concern for Grande’s well-being, noting the challenges of being constantly in the public eye, especially after traumatic incidents.
Comments flooded social media emphasizing empathy, with messages like, “Very overstimulating especially for people with anxiety and PTSD,” and, “Queen was just a lil overstimulated.”
For Grande, these experiences underline the ongoing balance between her career and her mental health, showing the human side behind the glamour of the red carpet.
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