Security Breach at Star-Studded Premiere
A man has been sentenced to nine days in jail after he breached security and grabbed pop superstar Ariana Grande during the red carpet premiere for Wicked: For Good in Singapore. The incident, which occurred on 13 November at Universal Studios Singapore, saw Australian national Johnson Wen leap over barricades and rush towards the singer.
A Pattern of Disruptive Behaviour
The court heard that the 26-year-old Wen, who has a history of disrupting public events, was convicted of being a public nuisance. Video evidence showed Wen jumping a barricade and making a direct approach towards Grande. Her co-star, Cynthia Erivo, immediately intervened to help protect her before security personnel moved Wen away.
In a further escalation, after being initially removed by security staff, Wen made a second attempt to jump the barricades. This time, security staff stopped him and pinned him down to prevent another incident.
History of Stage Invasions and Public Backlash
Wen, who posts on Instagram under the handle pyjamamann, has a documented pattern of such behaviour. His social media features footage of previous stage invasions involving major artists like Katy Perry and The Weeknd. The video of his approach to Grande sparked substantial online backlash, with many commenters labelling his actions as criminal.
The incident occurred while Grande and her co-stars were on a major publicity tour for the Wicked sequel, which was released on 21 November. Such red-carpet invasions have become increasingly uncommon in recent years due to tightened security protocols.
This is not an isolated event in entertainment history. Similar incidents include:
- In 2007, a podcaster handcuffed herself to Hugh Grant at a premiere.
- In 2014, Bradley Cooper was accosted by a TV prankster in Moscow.
- In 2012, Kim Kardashian was flourbombed by a Peta activist.
