Additional Coverage:
- That was fast: Man who accosted Ariana Grande last week is serving time already in Singapore (latimes.com)
“Wicked” Fan’s Wild Ride in Singapore Lands Him Nine Days in the Slammer
Singapore’s legal system wasted no time in dealing with an Australian man who caused a scene at the Asian premiere of “Wicked: For Good” last week. Johnson Wen, 26, is already behind bars, serving a nine-day sentence for disrupting the event and charging at pop superstar Ariana Grande.
The incident unfolded on Thursday at Universal Studios Singapore, where Wen reportedly leaped over a barrier and ran towards Grande, embracing her around the neck and shoulders while flashing a wide grin for cameras. Grande’s co-star, Cynthia Erivo, quickly intervened, separating Wen from a visibly startled Grande. Security then escorted him away.
But Wen wasn’t done yet. According to reports, he attempted a second breach of the barricades lining the yellow carpet before being tackled by security and subsequently arrested on Friday.
Wen, who was in Singapore on a 90-day tourist visa, was convicted Monday of being a public nuisance, the BBC reported. Prosecutors, who labeled him a “serial intruder” seeking online attention, requested a week-long sentence. The charge itself carries a maximum penalty of three months in jail.
“Dude this is not okay,” one commenter wrote on Wen’s Instagram post detailing the incident. “Look how badly you scared her!
You put hands on her. I sincerely hope you [are] charged with something and banned from events.”
The judge presiding over Wen’s case seemingly echoed those sentiments. Wen, who is known online as “Pyjama Man” and has a history of disrupting celebrity and sporting events, including the 2024 Paris Olympics, told the judge he wouldn’t repeat his actions.
“Are you paying lip service or is this your intention?” the judge queried, to which Wen affirmed he was “going to stop.”
The judge referenced Wen’s past intrusions, noting he had previously escaped consequences. “Perhaps you thought the same would occur here, but Mr.
Wen, you are wrong,” the judge stated, emphasizing that all actions have consequences. He further described Wen’s behavior as “attention-seeking, thinking only of yourself, and not the safety of others,” and deemed the act premeditated, adding two days to the prosecution’s requested sentence.
It remains unclear if Wen also faces a fine.
Despite the chaotic incident, Grande continued her “Wicked: For Good” promotional tour, appearing at a Q&A in Century City on Saturday and the Governors Awards in Hollywood on Sunday. The U.S. premiere of “Wicked: For Good,” which also features Jeff Goldblum as the Wizard, is scheduled for Monday in New York, with a wide theatrical release set for Thursday.