‘Wicked: For Good’ is shaping up to be more than a fantasy musical; it’s becoming a story of awakening, accountability, and personal courage, both on screen and behind the scenes. Under the direction of Jon M. Chu, the sequel to 2024’s ‘Wicked’ reunites Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo in the limelight as Glinda and Elphaba enter the second half of their fates.
However, just as Grande is delving into the emotional breakdown of Glinda in the movie, a recent terrifying real-life event has cast an unforeseen dark cloud on what was supposed to be a joyful event among the cast.
Ariana Grande Gets Candid About Glinda’s Inner Struggle In ‘Wicked: For Good’
As the plot of ‘Wicked’ shifts into its climax, the world that Glinda has so meticulously polished starts to shatter. She now has to face herself without the glittering surface. Ariana Grande has recently shared her new original song, ‘The Girl in the Bubble‘, which was written to be included in ‘Wicked: For Good.’ Grande explains that the song is not just another musical number. It’s the moment when her character ceases to pretend and begins to change.
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“What I love most about it is that it’s. It is such a narrative piece for her,” she explained. “I’m so glad we get to see her experience that moment of change, to make that choice to begin the chapter of being truly good.” For Grande, the nuance lies in the difference between performing goodness and becoming good. “Not performing goodness, not… a façade of goodness,” she said, “but to put down the wand, and actually become truly good.”
This crude self-discovery is seldom depicted on stage, with the emotional turning point of Glinda mostly occurring offstage. Grande is sincerely thankful that viewers can now see that change in action. “You see the before and after moments on Broadway, but to see that moment is a gift,” she reflected. The same sentiment is reflected by director Jon M. Chu. To him, the new song by Glinda is a mindset audiences never truly get to explore.
“What happens when you’re someone like Glinda who has this bubble of protection,” Chu asked. “Where you don’t ever have to deal with the truth if you don’t want to? Are you able to pop your bubble of privilege?” Chu believes musicals flourish because they explore the inner world of characters. “We needed more songs,” he said simply. “We needed more avenues into that mindset.”
How Ariana Grande Was Attacked At The ‘Wicked: For Good’ Premiere
But even as Grande channels this emotional transformation on screen, she faced a terrifying real-life confrontation just days earlier. During the premiere of ‘Wicked: For Good’ in Singapore, a man violated the security by jumping over the barricades and grabbing the singer by the shoulders. The video footage of the shocking moment went viral, and people were scared for the singer. Johnson Wen, a 26-year-old assailant, has been sentenced to 9 days in prison after he was convicted of public nuisance.
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The court also found him to be a serial intruder, having a record of interrupting big celebrity events. He had been banned by various places and was fined previously, but still continued doing the same. Videos of the witnesses reveal that Wen climbed the barricade and jumped at Grande, which led her co-star Cynthia Erivo to instinctively intervene between them to protect her. Security came to the rescue, and Wen was held down as he tried to make a second leap.
Grande did not make a statement. Erivo, though, approached the experience with honesty. In a SAG appearance a few days later, she mentioned the incident obliquely: “We have come through some stuff in our lives, our daily workings… even this last week, let’s be honest.” Her tone was warm but firm, protective, sisterly, and deeply human. Upon release, Wen shared an Instagram Story boasting that he was free, which caused a fresh wave of anger on the internet. The leniency of the sentence was a major complaint among people.
