Ariana Grande Tested Positive for COVID After Appearing on Jimmy Fallon

Ariana Grande Covid test positive and after the whirlwind press tour for “Wicked: For Good” screeched to a stop,  she announced her COVID-19 diagnosis. The pop icon tested positive just after appearing on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” on Tuesday, November 18, 2025.

She broke the news on her Instagram Stories on Thursday, November 20. Grande posted a screenshot from her Fallon appearance, captioned “moments before Covid.”

Her diagnosis hit just a day before “Wicked: For Good” landed in theaters on November 21. On Fallon, she’d wowed the crowd with her Glinda wand moves, joking, “I have to find my footing,” before pulling off some magical choreography.

Honestly, the press tour was already rough. Both Grande and her co-star Cynthia Erivo ended up sick along the way.

Erivo had already ducked out of the New York premiere interviews on November 17 after losing her voice. And then there was the wild scene in Singapore, where a man grabbed Grande at the November 13 premiere—he later got nine days in jail.

Key Takeaways – Ariana Grande Covid test positive

• Grande tested positive for COVID-19 on November 20, just days after her November 18 Fallon appearance
• Both Wicked co-stars fell ill during the final stretch of their global press tour
• The diagnosis landed one day before “Wicked: For Good” opened, capping a promo campaign full of curveballs

Details of Ariana Grande’s COVID Diagnosis

Ariana confirmed her COVID-19 diagnosis on November 20, 2025, via Instagram Stories. By then, she’d wrapped most of her “Wicked: For Good” promo duties.

The announcement came just a day before the film’s big theatrical release. She had to scrap several last-minute appearances.

Announcement and Confirmation Ariana Grande Covid

Grande revealed her diagnosis by reposting a pic from her recent Fallon taping. The caption: “Moments before Covid.” She’s there, mid-wand wave, all smiles.

She kept it short and sweet, choosing Instagram over a press release. Fans got the news straight from her.

She’d just been at the “Wicked: For Good” New York premiere three days earlier. The timing? Pretty brutal, right before the film’s November 21 debut.

Ariana Grande Covid Timeline of Symptoms and Testing

Ariana Grande Covid test was positive on Thursday, November 20, 2025. Her last big public event was Fallon, taped November 18.

Here’s how it played out:

• November 18: Taped Jimmy Fallon appearance
• November 20: Confirmed positive COVID test
• November 21: “Wicked: For Good” hits theaters

This was actually the second time Ariana Grande COVID positive while working on Wicked. Back in London, between December 2022 and January 2024, both she and Erivo tested positive before filming some of the musical’s biggest numbers.

Public Reaction and Concerns

Fans rushed to send love and well wishes when they heard. Nobody wants their favorite pop star sick, especially right before a huge movie launch.

Her diagnosis forced her to bail on several commitments. She canceled a taped spot on “The Kelly Clarkson Show”—Erivo went solo instead. Grande also missed some Q&A sessions about the film.

Erivo, meanwhile, was also under the weather and had lost her voice at recent events. People started to worry about both Wicked leads as the film’s opening weekend approached.

Connection to The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon Appearance

Ariana’s positive test came right after her November 18, 2024, spot on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. The timeline made folks wonder: did she catch it around the taping? Was the show somehow involved?

Events During the Episode

On Fallon, Grande jumped into a bunch of close-up segments. She and Jimmy did the “History of Duets,” belting out classics and even songs from Wicked: For Good.

She also showed off her Glinda the Good Witch wand skills, which she later shared in a black-and-white Insta Story. She looked totally healthy and upbeat on camera.

Producers didn’t notice anything off during filming. No one suspected she was sick at the time.

Significance of the Timing

That Instagram caption—“moments before Covid”—linked her Tonight Show appearance straight to her diagnosis. She posted it on November 20, using a photo from the November 18 taping.

It looks like either caught Ariana Grande COVID right around the Fallon show or just before. Her positive test came after, not during, the episode.

The timing couldn’t have been worse for her promo schedule. “Wicked: For Good” was about to hit theaters on Friday, November 22.

The whole thing highlighted just how risky these high-energy press tours can be. Grande had been everywhere: interviews, red carpets, TV spots—you name it.

Follow-Up Actions After Filming

After her positive result, Grande immediately canceled her “Kelly Clarkson Show” appearance. That whole segment got yanked from the lineup.

She also dropped out of several planned Q&A events for Wicked: For Good. These were supposed to be the final marketing push before the big release.

Canceled Appearances:

• The Kelly Clarkson Show (taped interview)
• Multiple Wicked Q&A sessions
• Other promo interviews

Her team moved fast to alert everyone she’d been around, including Fallon’s production staff. Standard COVID protocols kicked in—anyone with close contact got notified.

Grande’s reps worked with NBC and other networks to handle the fallout. They juggled public health priorities and tried to keep the film’s promo machine running, which can’t have been easy.

Impact on Wicked: For Good Press Tour and Cast

Ariana’s COVID diagnosis triggered a domino effect of canceled events and last-minute schedule changes. It also put extra pressure on Cynthia Erivo and the rest of the cast to fill in the gaps.

Cancelled and Rescheduled Commitments

Her positive test meant she had to drop out of a taped appearance with Erivo on “The Kelly Clarkson Show,” so Erivo went it alone.

Grande also missed out on Q&A sessions planned for the days right before the movie’s release. These cancellations landed at the worst possible time, just as “Wicked: For Good” was opening in theaters.

She announced her diagnosis on Instagram, posting a shot from her recent Fallon taping with the caption “moments before Covid.” Odds are, she was already infectious during that appearance.

Universal’s marketing team had to scramble. They quickly shifted plans and handed off media duties to whoever was still healthy for the opening weekend.

Effect on Cynthia Erivo and Other Cast Members

Erivo was already struggling with her health before Grande’s diagnosis. She’d lost her voice and missed interviews at the New York premiere.

Grande skipped those interviews too, showing some real solidarity with her co-star. You can tell these two have each other’s backs.

Both stars had caught COVID before, during the first “Wicked” shoot. Erivo tested positive right before filming “Defying Gravity,” and Grande got sick just ahead of “Popular.” It’s almost uncanny how often illness has hit this project.

With Grande sidelined, Erivo had to pick up extra promo duties. She appeared solo on “The Kelly Clarkson Show” and took on more interviews, even with her voice still shaky.

Wicked: For Good Release and Press Tour Challenges

The global press tour for “Wicked: For Good” just couldn’t catch a break. Grande missed the first premiere in Brazil, so the campaign started off with a gap.

Then, in Singapore, a man jumped the barricade and rushed Grande on the red carpet. Erivo jumped in and pushed the guy away, which was honestly heroic.

Despite all these hiccups, industry folks stayed optimistic about the movie’s box office. “Wicked: For Good” was expected to rake in $150 million to $180 million from 4,000 North American theaters on opening weekend—a potential record-breaker.

The original “Wicked” movie had set a high bar, pulling $112.5 million during the same pre-Thanksgiving period. With Jon M. Chu at the helm, fans still seemed hyped despite all the chaos.

At the New York premiere, Grande told reporters, “We are so grateful. We are great. Cynthia’s great, too,” and Erivo gave a thumbs up. You could feel their determination to keep the energy positive.

Notable Incidents During the Global Tour

The global press tour for “Wicked: For Good” was honestly wild. Security scares and health issues kept popping up for both leads.

There was that physical altercation at the Singapore premiere, plus more health scares. The promo campaign turned into a real test of stamina for everyone involved.

Red Carpet Incident in Singapore

So, picture this: at the “Wicked: For Good” premiere in Singapore on November 13, an Australian man named Johnson Wen suddenly sprinted toward Ariana Grande on the red carpet. The whole thing was caught on video, and honestly, it’s wild—Wen just slipped past the security barriers and grabbed Ariana.

Cynthia Erivo didn’t hesitate for a second. She jumped in, shoved Wen away, and stood between him and Grande.

Wen tried to leap over the barricades again, but security finally managed to tackle him and pin him down. They detained him right there on the spot.

On Monday, November 17, the court sentenced Wen to nine days in jail for the chaos he caused. Prosecutors had wanted a week, but Singapore’s laws could’ve sent him away for three months.

Turns out, Wen’s got a bit of a reputation. Investigators dug into his background and found he’d pulled off similar stunts at other celeb events.

His social media is, well, kind of a mess. He’d rushed the stage at Katy Perry and The Chainsmokers concerts before, and security always had to drag him off.

His Instagram bio even calls himself a “troll.” So, yeah, this guy seems to enjoy stirring up trouble at public events.

Other Health-Related Events

As if the red carpet drama wasn’t enough, both lead actresses hit some health snags as the press tour wrapped up. Cynthia Erivo was the first to get sick—she lost her voice and felt awful right before the New York premiere on November 17.

Universal Pictures announced that Erivo wouldn’t do any press interviews at the event. The timing couldn’t have been worse, since it was the last push before the film’s November 20 release.

Then Ariana Grande tested positive for COVID-19. She got her results not long after her appearance on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” on November 18.

She broke the news on her Instagram Story on Thursday, November 20. That was just a day before the movie’s big debut in theaters.

Fan and Media Response

The Singapore incident exploded online. Fans and media immediately started questioning how safe these international premieres really are for celebrities.

People shared the video everywhere—Erivo got tons of praise for stepping in so fast.

With both stars getting sick right before the release, fans flooded social media with concern and well-wishes. The timing was just…unfortunate.

Grande’s COVID diagnosis made headlines all over entertainment news. Her Instagram post about it racked up thousands of comments from fans hoping she’d bounce back quickly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Ariana Grande tested positive for COVID-19 on Thursday, November 20, 2025—yep, just one day before “Wicked: For Good” hit theaters. She broke the news on Instagram after her “Tonight Show” appearance on November 18.

What illness has Ariana Grande recently been diagnosed with?

She tested positive for COVID-19. Ariana shared the news on her Instagram Story on November 20, 2025.

She’d just wrapped up weeks of global promotion for “Wicked: For Good.” That meant press, red carpets, late-night TV—the works.

Has Ariana Grande spoken about her health condition on any public platform?

Yep, she announced it on her Instagram Story. She even posted a screenshot from her November 18 spot on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.”

Her caption? “moments before Covid.” The post landed just two days after her TV appearance with Jimmy Fallon.

What changes has Ariana Grande made to her schedule due to her recent diagnosis?

Ariana canceled the rest of her “Wicked: For Good” promo gigs. The positive test meant she had to skip the final US events for the movie.

Her diagnosis came right at the end of the press tour. It pretty much threw a wrench in those last-minute promotional plans before the film’s November 21 release.

How has Ariana Grande’s recent health news affected her upcoming tours and performances?

There’s nothing out there about her canceling any tours or concerts because of COVID. The illness mainly derailed her movie promo schedule.

It all happened during the film’s press tour, not a music tour. Lately, her focus has been on the movie, not live shows.

What steps has Ariana Grande taken to recover after her diagnosis?

No word yet on her recovery steps. Ariana hasn’t shared any treatment details or a timeline for getting back to normal.

Her reps have kept quiet, too. The announcement was really just about confirming her positive test.

Are there any official statements from Ariana Grande’s team regarding her health status?

USA TODAY tried to get a comment from Grande’s reps, but honestly, nothing official came back. Instead, Grande herself jumped on her Instagram Story to share the news directly with fans.

Funny enough, her co-star Cynthia Erivo got sick too right at the end of the press tour. Universal Pictures stepped in and said Erivo would skip press interviews at the New York premiere on November 17 since she lost her voice and just wasn’t feeling great.