Post by : Rameen Ariff

A shocking incident at the Wicked: For Good Asia-Pacific premiere in Singapore has triggered global outrage after a man jumped a barricade and grabbed actress and singer Ariana Grande during her appearance on the yellow carpet.

The intruder, identified as 26-year-old Australian national Johnson Wen, pushed through photographers and lunged toward Grande as the cast greeted fans at the packed event. Viral videos circulating online show co-star Cynthia Erivo swiftly pulling Grande away while security tackled the man moments later.

The incident left fans stunned, with many accusing the intruder of endangering the safety of the superstar and those around her.

Man Charged With Public Nuisance

Although Wen initially boasted on Instagram that he was “free after being arrested,” the situation changed quickly.
By Friday afternoon, he was formally charged with being a public nuisance by a Singapore court, a charge that carries a fine of up to S$2,000 ($1,540).

Local reports indicate Wen is unrepresented and intends to plead guilty.

The event sparked massive frustration among fans, many of whom had queued for hours to see the cast. Social media users demanded stricter action, with some calling for Wen to be banned from events or even deported.

Repeat Offender With a History of Stunts

Wen, who describes himself as “Troll Most Hated,” is no stranger to disrupting celebrity events.
His social media account includes clips of him:

• Jumping on stage at Katy Perry’s Sydney concert in June

• Disrupting a performance by The Chainsmokers last December

• Barging into multiple red-carpet events globally

Fans questioned why he hadn’t faced stronger consequences earlier.

Concerns for Ariana Grande’s Well-Being

Many fans pointed out that Grande has previously spoken about dealing with PTSD following the tragic 2017 Manchester bombing at her concert, which killed 22 people.

“Ariana has been through so many scary things… and you thought it would be fun to jump the barricade?” one fan wrote.

Others accused Wen of “re-traumatising” the artist, noting her startled reaction in the widely shared videos.

While Grande has not publicly commented, clips show her being comforted by Michelle Yeoh and Cynthia Erivo as she regained composure before continuing with the event.

Security Under Scrutiny

Some fans also criticised security personnel for failing to intercept Wen before he reached the actress. Others called on social media platforms to remove Wen’s videos, arguing they encourage disruptive and dangerous behaviour.

Despite the chaos, the premiere continued smoothly afterward, with Grande and her co-stars interacting with hundreds of excited fans who had gathered in green and pink-themed outfits inspired by the musical.

The premiere celebrated the upcoming release of Wicked: For Good, the second part of the film adaptation of the hit Broadway and West End musical Wicked.
Grande stars as Glinda, while Erivo portrays the Wicked Witch, with Jeff Goldblum joining the cast as the Wizard.

The first film became the highest-grossing UK film of 2024, earning 10 Oscar nominations and winning awards for costume and production design.

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