A man has been formally charged by a Singaporean court after he breached security and physically grabbed pop star and actress Ariana Grande at the highly anticipated premiere of Wicked: For Good.
Security Breach on the Red Carpet
The incident occurred on Thursday night at Universal Studios Singapore, where the film's stars were walking the red carpet. Video footage clearly shows 26-year-old Johnson Wen vaulting over a designated barricade and sprinting directly towards Grande. The man proceeded to embrace the startled singer before being swiftly intercepted and removed from the area.
Grande's co-star, Cynthia Erivo, who plays Elphaba in the musical film, was praised for her immediate reaction. Erivo instinctively moved to shield and protect Grande from the intruder, demonstrating quick thinking amidst the chaotic moment.
Legal Repercussions and Online History
Wen was charged in court with being a public nuisance. According to local media reports, the 26-year-old has indicated he will plead guilty to the charge. If convicted, he faces a potential maximum penalty of a S$2,000 fine, which is approximately £1,168.
This was not an isolated incident for Wen. An investigation into his social media presence reveals he regularly posts on Instagram under the handle pyjamamann, where his online persona is built around invading concert stages. His account features content of similar stunts pulled at events for major artists like Katy Perry and the Weeknd. The footage of him accosting Grande sparked significant online backlash, with many followers and commentators labelling his actions as criminal and dangerous.
A Pattern of Red Carpet Invasions
While security measures at high-profile events have drastically tightened over recent years, making such invasions uncommon, this incident recalls a history of similar breaches. In 2007, a podcaster named Cielke Sijben managed to handcuff herself to actor Hugh Grant at a premiere, requiring firefighters to separate them.
Other notable examples include actor Bradley Cooper being accosted on a red carpet in 2014, and Will Smith receiving an unsolicited kiss at a Moscow premiere in 2012. That same year, Kim Kardashian was the target of a flour-bombing by a Peta activist at a perfume launch.
The premiere was part of a mammoth global publicity tour for Grande and her co-stars ahead of the film's release on 21 November. With the review embargo set to lift soon, early reactions are already hinting at potential Oscar nominations for both Grande and Erivo.
