Sexiest Man Alive Jonathan Bailey Stuns Crowd With Surprise Appearance At Bingay In Sydney
A wicked surprise Down Under.
It is not every day that Hollywood royalty decides to crash a local drag event, but that is exactly what happened in Sydney last night. Patrons at the monthly charity event Bingay were left speechless when Jonathan Bailey, star of Wicked and Wicked: For Good, showed up unannounced at Bingay in Sydney on Wednesday night, sending the crowd into meltdown.
The event, which has been running since 1999, is one of Sydney’s longest-standing community fundraisers, with all proceeds supporting ACON’s health programs and services.
Hosted by Charisma Belle and long-time barrel babe Naomi Palmer, the evening took on a distinctly Wicked flavour. Charisma channelled her inner Glinda in a sparkly pink gown complete with tiara, while Naomi went full Elphaba with green skin and a witch’s hat. The theme proved prophetic when the actual Fiyero himself walked into the room.
Bailey, who was recently crowned People’s Sexiest Man Alive for 2025, has been in Sydney for a whirlwind visit tied to the release of Wicked: For Good. His Bingay appearance came just hours after he presented an award at the TikTok Awards, also held in Sydney. The 37-year-old British actor told People magazine when he received the Sexiest Man Alive title, “It’s a huge honour. Obviously, I’m incredibly flattered. And it’s completely absurd.”
A week of surprises Down Under.
This was not Bailey’s only surprise stop during his Australian trip. On Sunday, he popped up at a sold-out IMAX screening of Wicked: For Good at Darling Harbour, where he also surprised his sister, brother-in-law, and nieces who were in the audience at an earlier session. Radio host Kent “Smallzy” Small helped coordinate the IMAX appearance, telling the crowd, “You wouldn’t believe who I found just hanging outside the cinema.”
Bailey explained his return to Australia in a video shared by Universal Pictures. “I’ve just landed in Australia. I wanted to return to the real land of Oz,” he said. “This is where we started the press tour for the first film last year, and I thought, why not end the press tour for Wicked: For Good back where it started.”
Why this appearance meant everything.
What made Bailey’s Bingay appearance particularly meaningful is the event’s history and purpose. Bingay raises funds for ACON, which provides HIV prevention, HIV support, and health services. Bailey himself founded The Shameless Fund, which supports similar organisations globally. In an interview with People, he spoke about this work, saying, “I know the LGBT sector is under immense threat at the moment. So it’s been amazing to meet people who have the expertise and see potential that I could have only dreamed of.”
Bailey made history earlier this month as the first openly gay man to be named People‘s Sexiest Man Alive. The Bridgerton star and Emmy-nominated actor has become one of the most visible and beloved figures in entertainment, known for roles in Fellow Travelers, Heartstopper, and now the Wicked film franchise, where he plays Prince Fiyero opposite Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande.
His co-stars were quick to celebrate his Sexiest Man Alive honour. Grande shared his People cover, while Erivo wrote, “Now the world knows what I’ve known all along.”
For the lucky Bingay attendees who scored a Wednesday night with Charisma, Naomi, and the actual Prince of the Vinkus? That is the kind of community magic money cannot buy.
Though, technically, their $20 ticket price did go to a very good cause. It was a night of laughter, camp, and unexpected star power that the attendees will likely never forget.
