Ariana Grande's Wicked Premiere (Image: Social Media)
When a man rushed at Ariana Grande during the Wicked: For Good premiere in Singapore, the internet buzzed with excuses. Marissa Bode, Grande's co-star in the film, is having none of it. The actress, who plays Nessarose, is using the viral moment to deliver a powerful lesson on fan entitlement, safety, and the price of fame.
The incident occurred on a red carpet, a space meant for celebration. A man, identified by the BBC as Johnson Wen, breached security and grabbed Ariana Grande. He was subsequently charged as a "public nuisance." The emotional and cultural repercussions have been substantial, despite the short duration of the physical encounter. The event shifted from a movie promotion to a case study in modern celebrity culture. This begs the question: when does admiration cross the line into violation?
Marissa Bode is the 25-year-old actress starring alongside Ariana Grande in the upcoming Wicked films. She plays Nessarose Thropp, Elphaba’s sister. Unlike an outsider, Bode was actually at the event and knows Grande both personally and professionally. She went on TikTok to speak about the incident directly, rejecting claims that the man’s fandom justified what he did. Her closeness to the moment makes her words especially credible and urgent.
In her viral video, Bode directly confronted those defending the man's behavior. She stated, “‘But they’re a fan!’ Okay. Then they’re a fan and a loser." This blunt, clear perspective calls out an old toxic excuse. Bode linked this moment to a bigger pattern of “parasocial” behavior, where fans form one-sided bonds with celebrities. She pointed to other worrying trends, like fans throwing things at performers, saying the rush for social media attention is destroying basic safety and respect.
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In a crucial follow-up, Bode clarified that her message was broader than the Singapore grab. She stated it was about "women in this industry in general." She pointed out that female public figures like singers Chappell Roan and actress Rachel Zegler often face intense backlash simply for having an opinion. Bode made a critical distinction: "These are people, they are not products, they do not owe you their entire personhood." She concluded that anyone who disagrees with this is not a true fan but "someone who’s entitled that desperately needs to be brought back down to Earth.”
