An Australian man has been sentenced to jail after a disturbing incident at the Wicked: For Good premiere in Singapore, where he breached security and rushed towards global pop star Ariana Grande.
The Premiere Intrusion and Immediate Aftermath
Johnson Wen, a 26-year-old from Australia, pleaded guilty to one charge of being a public nuisance on Monday, 17 November 2025. He was subsequently sentenced to nine days in jail by a Singaporean court. The incident, which was captured on viral video, occurred the previous Thursday when Wen jumped a barricade on the yellow carpet and grabbed the singer.
Footage from the event showed Grande's co-star, Cynthia Erivo, immediately rushing to her defence before security personnel intervened and pushed Wen away. The event left Grande, whose 2017 Manchester concert was the site of a fatal terrorist attack, visibly shaken.
A Serial Offender and Social Media Troll
Later on the night of the incident, Wen, who describes himself as "Troll Most Hated" on his Instagram, posted a video of the rush with the caption: "Dear Ariana Grande Thank You for letting me Jump on the Yellow Carpet with You." He was arrested and charged the following day and has been in remand since.
According to local media reports, prosecutors sought a week's jail for Wen, labelling him a "serial intruder" who frequently posts videos of himself crashing high-profile events. This includes a similar incident at a Katy Perry concert earlier in the year.
Court Sentencing and Public Outcry
When asked by District Judge Christopher Goh if he had anything to say in mitigation, Wen simply stated, "I won't do it again, Your Honour." The judge responded by saying, "You seem to be attention-seeking, thinking only of yourself, and not the safety of others, when committing these acts."
In Singapore, the charge of public nuisance can carry a prison sentence of up to three months, a fine of up to S$2000 (approximately £1170), or both. The incident sparked widespread criticism on social media, with many users referencing the trauma of the Manchester bombing. One person wrote, "Ariana has been through so many scary things... and at her Manchester concert and you thought it would be fun to jump the barricade?"
Meanwhile, Cynthia Erivo was widely praised by fans for her swift protective action. Ariana Grande has not yet publicly commented on the event. The highly anticipated film sequel, Wicked: For Good, which sees the return of stars including Jonathan Bailey and Michelle Yeoh, is scheduled for release in cinemas on 21 November.
