An alarming security breach at the "Wicked: For Good" premiere in Singapore has prompted a powerful response from one of the film's stars, highlighting the dangers of parasocial relationships and the violation of celebrity boundaries.
Co-Star Speaks Out After Stage Invasion
The incident occurred on Thursday during the highly anticipated premiere event. A social media influencer, described as an overzealous fan, rushed the stage and managed to get close enough to Ariana Grande to wrap an arm around her, hopping up and down before being intercepted.
Cynthia Erivo, who co-stars in the film adaptation of the popular Broadway play, swiftly helped corral the man to security. The following day, Marissa Bode, who plays Nessarose Thropp in the movie, addressed the absurd incident in a series of candid TikTok videos.
"A Fan and a Loser": Bode's Blunt Critique
Bode began by directly confronting those who defended the individual's actions simply because he claimed to be a fan of Grande. This justification did not sit well with the actor. "'But they're a fan!' OK. Then they're a fan and a loser," Bode stated unequivocally.
She articulated that the encounter was a clear violation of Grande's personal boundaries and shifted the discussion to the concept of parasocial relationships. Bode explained these as one-way emotional bonds where a person feels a sense of closeness or friendship with a celebrity through consuming their media, despite the connection not being mutual.
The Expectation of Grace and Safety
In her videos, Bode criticized the assailant's motives and lack of remorse. "Did you get your views? Did you get your likes?" she asked. "Guess what you also did? You made somebody feel incredibly unsafe."
She went on to call the person a "bad person" and emphasized that anyone experiencing such an invasion owes no one politeness. "I don't think women, or really anybody, should be expected to move with grace or respond with kindness when they've been violated in that way, and to expect that makes you a weirdo also," Bode asserted.
She added that women in the public eye often respond with kindness not because it's warranted, but because they fear the backlash if they don't. In a separate video, Bode concluded that a true fan would not "disregard boundaries, and see somebody as a product and not a person."
