ITV's This Morning programme has erupted in fury after a shocking incident at the Wicked: For Good premiere in Singapore, where a fan physically assaulted global pop star Ariana Grande.
Outrage on the Red Carpet
The unsettling event unfolded this week during the film's red carpet event in Singapore. Disturbing footage, which quickly spread across social media platforms, showed a man rushing past security and grabbing the singer and actress. The attack was swiftly halted by Ariana's co-star, Cynthia Erivo, who immediately stepped in to pull the man away before security personnel could fully intervene.
On Friday's edition of This Morning (November 14), presenters Alison Hammond and Dermot O'Leary discussed the footage with visible anger. Regular show panellists Tim Campbell and Sonia Sodha also shared their strong reactions to the security breach.
This Morning's Furious Reaction
After watching the viral clip, Dermot O'Leary was quick to distinguish the assailant's actions from genuine fan excitement. "I get it when people get excited seeing their idols, but that wasn't that. That was entitlement," he stated. "That was a guy trying to get on Instagram or TikTok or whatever."
Sonia Sodha revealed the man had a troubling history of similar behaviour. "He's got a track record of it. He's done it again and again," she said, labelling the act as "incredibly disrespectful" and a major security risk. Her condemnation was particularly pointed given Ariana Grande's past trauma. "It was [Ariana's] concert in the Manchester Arena in 2017 that was bombed, and she's talked about how she suffered from PTSD after that. And to inflict that on her, I think it's quite disgusting."
Sodha went on to suggest that the nature of red carpet events might need to change, proposing ticketing as a potential solution to improve safety, while also calling for lifetime bans for repeat offenders.
Friendship and Aftermath
Tim Campbell highlighted Cynthia Erivo's quick-thinking protective response as a beacon of hope in the alarming situation. "The thing that stood out to me is that I need a friend like Cynthia. She was good then, instantly her first reaction was to protect. She went straight in there," he praised. "That's what friendship looks like... In that moment, you could see the fear in [Ariana's] eyes."
Following the incident, 26-year-old Australian Johnson Wen was charged with being a public nuisance in a Singapore court. The man has since posted on Instagram confirming he was "free after being arrested." Reports from local media indicate that Wen, who is without legal representation, intends to plead guilty. A conviction could see him facing a fine of up to £1,170.
This Morning airs weekdays on ITV at 10am. Wicked: For Good is scheduled for release in cinemas on Friday, November 21.
