Takeaways:
- Ariana Grande missed the Wicked: For Good world premiere in São Paulo due to a plane safety issue.
- The singer tearfully asked fans not to “wish danger” on her after receiving online backlash.
- Many fans have defended her, calling out the toxic side of celebrity fandom culture.
Ariana Grande Addresses Fans After Missing São Paulo Premiere
Pop star Ariana Grande issued an emotional plea to her fans after she was forced to miss the Wicked: For Good world premiere in São Paulo, Brazil, due to flight complications.
On November 3, the Grammy-winning singer took to Instagram to explain that her commercial flight encountered a “safety issue”, forcing all passengers, including her team, to deplane. The incident delayed the flight until the next morning — making it impossible for Ariana to arrive in time for the premiere.
“My team and Universal have tried every single thing possible to fix this,” she wrote. “We searched every other flight — commercial and private — but absolutely nothing was available or possible that would get us there in time.”
Ariana added that even arranging a private plane required a special flight permit, which couldn’t be processed quickly enough.
Backlash from Fans: “Wish Danger” Comments Cross the Line
Despite her sincere apology, a portion of Ariana’s fanbase reacted harshly online. Some accused her of disrespecting Brazilian fans and even posted videos of themselves throwing away her albums.
The situation quickly escalated, prompting Ariana to post a second heartfelt statement, urging her followers to stop spreading hate.
“Please don’t wish danger on me or my team,” she wrote. “There was no other time for me to leave. These plans have been booked for months.”
Ariana went on to explain that she had been working on another film until just days before the event — alongside co-stars Jonathan Bailey, Cynthia Erivo, and director Jon M. Chu — and that she had been looking forward to the premiere for over a year.
“Please know how disappointed I am,” she added, expressing both love and regret toward her fans.
Emotional Video Message: Ariana Holds Back Tears
To make amends with fans who attended the premiere, Ariana recorded a video message that was played during the São Paulo event. In the clip — where she debuted her new brunette hair — she apologized once again and promised to visit Brazil soon.
Attendees described the singer as “emotional” and “holding back tears,” further emphasizing how deeply the incident affected her.
Fans Defend Ariana and Call Out Toxic Fandom Behavior
The ordeal has since gone viral, with most fans rallying behind Ariana and criticizing those who sent hate. Many took to Reddit and X (formerly Twitter) to express outrage over how the singer was treated.
“How wild it must be to have fans like that — to plead with them not to threaten her or her coworkers,” one Reddit user wrote. “If it was a person, we’d say, ‘Dump them, that’s abusive!’”
Others highlighted how some toxic fans thrive on being acknowledged, even when called out — a troubling reflection of celebrity culture in the social media age.
A Lesson in Compassion for Fans Everywhere
Ariana Grande’s ordeal underscores a growing issue in entertainment: fan entitlement. While social media brings artists and audiences closer, it can also breed unhealthy expectations.
Grande’s response — calm, compassionate, and deeply human — reminds us that even global stars deserve empathy when things go wrong.
