A man has been charged with being a public nuisance after grabbing Ariana Grande at the Singapore premiere of Wicked: For Good on Thursday night. Johnson Wen, a 26-year-old Australian, jumped a red carpet barricade at Universal Studios Singapore and rushed towards the star, embracing her before being pulled away by her co-star Cynthia Erivo.
Local media reports suggest Wen intends to plead guilty and could face a fine of up to S$2,000 (£1,168). The incident was captured on video and widely shared online, sparking backlash from fans who labelled his actions a criminal offence.
Wen, who posts on Instagram as pyjamamann, has a history of invading concert stages, including those of Katy Perry and the Weeknd. Thursday’s stunt at the film premiere led to a significant public outcry.
Grande and her co-stars are concluding a global publicity tour for the sequel, which releases on 21 November. The review embargo lifts on Tuesday, with early buzz suggesting potential Oscar nominations for Grande and Erivo. Red carpet invasions have become rare due to heightened security; notable past incidents include a podcaster handcuffing herself to Hugh Grant in 2007 and Kim Kardashian being flour-bombed in 2012.
