ARIANA GRANDE MISSES FLIGHT TO BRAZIL PREMIERE

Ariana Grande has asked fans to calm down after she was forced to miss the Wicked: For Good premiere in Brazil this week.

Later this month, the sequel to the 2024 smash hit Wicked will hit screens, with the musical set to follow Elphaba and Glinda embracing their new identities as the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good.

Ariana, who plays Glinda, and her co-star Cynthia Erivo had been due to attend the movie’s global premiere in São Paulo on Tuesday night.

However, the actress, 32, earlier explained she’s not going to make it in time.

An initial statement on her Instagram informed fans that she had to deplane her flight ‘due to a safety issue’.

Since then, Ariana posted a subsequent message, which read: ‘Please don’t wish danger on us. 

‘We did everything we could and I promise you no one is more upset than I am. I promise no matter how upset or disappointed you are, please please do not wish danger on us or assume that we didn’t try.’ 

She went on: ‘I have been looking forward to this moment for a year, so please know how disappointed I am. Sending lots of love to you all. I hope it’s a beautiful and safe night. I love Brazil, I always have, I always will.’

Ariana had been receiving backlash from fans, who were upset she wouldn’t be in attendance.

In her original statement, she explained: ‘Brazil, I can’t believe this is happening and I am beyond devastated to be sending this message.

‘A few hours ago, my team and I had to deplane our flight, as they had to do maintenance on the plane due to a safety issue and it will not be taking off until 11am tomorrow which means that I would not be making it in time for the Wicked: For Good Sao Paulo premiere.

‘My team and Universal have tried every single thing possible to fix this, we’ve searched every other flight, overnight, early morning, connecting flights, commercial and also private options and absolutely nothing was available or possible that would get us there in time, even in attempting a private option, there is a permit necessary in order to fly from here that takes time to attain.’

She continued: ‘I am so heartbroken that I’m unable to be there with you all. We sincerely tried everything we could, and I apologise from the bottom of my heart. Please shower my incredible castmates with all of the love that I wish I could be showering you with and have the most beautiful celebration. And again, I am so, so very sorry.’

The first screening of the film took place in New York City last week, being attended by members of the Broadway company of the musical.

The São Paulo will mark its official global premiere, which will be followed by others in Paris on November 7, London on November 10, Singapore on November 13, and New York on November 17.

In the lead-up to the film being released, early reviews have started filtering through – with critics describing it as a ‘emotional gut punch’ that promises ‘jaw dropping performances’.

‘It’s an epic and heartbreakingly tender conclusion to one of the most dynamic friendships in pop culture history. There’s a lot for fans of the Broadway show to love with butterfly kiss sized surprises in store,’ Deadline wrote.

Variety described it as an ’emotional gut punch’, Cynthia as ‘magnificent’ and Ariana a ‘tour-de-force’.

Meanwhile, in an interview with Collider, director Jon M. Chu teased details about the upcoming release: ‘It’s all about the girls, as they say. As we said to each other over and over, “It’s about the girls, stupid”.

‘These girls, if you thought they were great in movie one, in movie two, they actually get to shatter the dream. They actually get to rebuild these characters.

‘They actually get to give them a wickedness and a goodness and then have to forgive each other and be rebirthed into a new form. To me, this is the reason we made Wicked.’

He added: ‘Of course, there’s bigger action, bigger drama. The stakes are way higher. But at the end of the day, it’s this beautiful story of this friendship, and the things that hold us together as a world, and I think we need that more than ever.’

Wicked: For Good will also see Jonathan Bailey return as Fiyero alongside Ethan Slater, Marissa Bode, Michelle Yeoh and Jeff Goldblum.

Wicked: For Good is out in cinemas on November 21.

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2025-11-04T10:13:32Z