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Ariana Grande canceled plans to appear at the São Paulo premiere of her new film after an unexpected airplane problem forced her and her team off the flight. The pop star told Brazilian followers she was devastated and that every option had been explored before the decision was made.
What happened on the flight that stopped Grande’s trip
Grande revealed the disruption on her Instagram Story late Monday. Crew called for maintenance after a safety concern was discovered onboard. The repair work delayed the aircraft long enough to make her original arrival impossible.
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Her team learned the plane could not depart until the next morning. That timing conflicted with the scheduled premiere in São Paulo, leaving no workable route to arrive on time.
All efforts to get her to Brazil
Representatives for Grande and her studio searched for every alternative. They checked commercial and private flights, overnight and early-morning connections, and other creative logistics solutions.
- No commercial flights could make the schedule.
- Private jet options existed but required a special permit.
- Obtaining that permit would take time and still might not meet the premiere window.
Despite intense coordination, the necessary paperwork and timing prevented a last-minute change. Safety concerns and aviation rules ultimately dictated the outcome.
Her message to fans in Brazil
Ariana expressed deep remorse to her Brazilian audience. She said she tried everything she could and felt crushed to miss the event.
In her note, she asked fans to give the cast and local teams their love and support in her absence. She emphasized how much she wanted to celebrate with them and apologized sincerely for the change.
She called the situation heartbreaking and repeatedly conveyed how sorry she was for not being able to attend.
Earlier screenings and reactions
A New York preview and Broadway gratitude
Before the São Paulo date, Grande joined a New York screening for the sequel. She spoke about honoring the Broadway legacy and thanked stage performers who have kept the show alive.
She described the film as a tribute to the theater community and said sharing the project with fans was an honor.
Wicked: For Good — who’s in the cast and when it opens
The sequel, Wicked: For Good, arrives in theaters on Nov. 21. Grande stars alongside an ensemble that mixes stage and screen talent.
- Cynthia Erivo
- Jonathan Bailey
- Michelle Yeoh
- Ethan Slater
- Jeff Goldblum
- Marissa Bode
- Peter Dinklage
- Bowen Yang
- Bronwyn James
Universal Pictures and Grande’s team coordinated travel and publicity up to the last moment. The film’s release plans remain unchanged despite the missed premiere appearance.
