Security Breach at Star-Studded Premiere
A man who breached security and grabbed pop superstar Ariana Grande at the red-carpet premiere for Wicked: For Good in Singapore has been sentenced to nine days in jail. The incident, which took place on 13 November at Universal Studios Singapore, saw Australian national Johnson Wen convicted of being a public nuisance.
A Pattern of Disruption
Video evidence presented in court showed the 26-year-old Wen, who has a history of disrupting public events, jump over a barricade and rush towards the singer. In a swift defensive move, Grande's co-star, Cynthia Erivo, immediately stepped in to help protect her before security personnel intervened and moved Wen away.
The court further heard that after his initial removal, Wen made a second attempt to jump the barricades. Security staff were forced to stop him again, this time pinning him to the ground to prevent another breach.
Online Backlash and a History of Stage Invasions
Wen, who regularly posts on Instagram under the handle @pyjamamann, has a documented history of posting footage from similar stage invasions involving artists like Katy Perry and the Weeknd. The video of his approach towards Ariana Grande sparked substantial online backlash, with many social media commenters labelling his actions as criminal.
This incident occurred as Grande and her co-stars were engaged in a major publicity tour for the Wicked sequel, which is scheduled for release on 21 November. While such red-carpet invasions have become increasingly uncommon due to tightened security in recent years, this event echoes past disruptions involving other high-profile figures.
In 2007, a podcaster handcuffed herself to Hugh Grant, and in 2014, Bradley Cooper was accosted by a prankster on a red carpet. The sentencing of Johnson Wen serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing security challenges faced by celebrities at public events.
