A 26-year-old Australian man has been sentenced to jail after ambushing pop superstar Ariana Grande during the highly anticipated Wicked: For Good premiere in Singapore.
The Shocking Yellow Carpet Incident
Johnson Wen, 26, from Australia received a nine-day jail sentence after pleading guilty to being a public nuisance for his alarming actions on the yellow carpet. The incident occurred on November 17, 2025, when Wen jumped over security barricades and rushed toward Grande as she walked arm-in-arm with co-stars Cynthia Erivo and Michelle Yeoh.
According to court reports from The Straits Times, Wen had arrived in Singapore on November 11 using a social visit pass, specifically planning to attend the premiere during his holiday. Security footage shows the moment Grande had just finished greeting a fan to her right when Wen vaulted the barrier and charged directly at the singer.
Cynthia Erivo's Heroic Intervention
The frightening confrontation saw Wen grabbing Grande in what witnesses described as something between a forceful hug and a headlock. Cynthia Erivo immediately sprang into action, physically inserting herself between the attacker and her co-star while security personnel rushed to intervene.
Video evidence shows Erivo attempting to throw her body as a shield between Grande and Wen, simultaneously pulling him away from the startled singer. Michelle Yeoh also reacted with visible panic, turning toward Grande as security roughly removed Wen from the area.
The incident quickly went viral across social media platforms, with countless users praising Erivo's protective instincts. One user commented: "Security needs to hire Cynthia - she was not playing at all," while another noted: "Real friendship is stepping in without hesitation. Cynthia understood the assignment."
History of Similar Stunts and Social Media Posts
Following his arrest, Wen identified himself on social media as 'Pyjama Man' and shared his own footage of the incident on TikTok and Instagram. His now-deleted post featured the caption: 'Dear Ariana Grande Thank You for letting me Jump on the Yellow Carpet with You' and attracted thousands of comments condemning his behaviour.
This wasn't Wen's first attempt at such attention-seeking behaviour. His social media history includes clips of him jumping on stage during Katy Perry's Sydney concert in June 2025 and repeating the stunt at a Chainsmokers concert in December 2024.
Despite the frightening interruption, Grande quickly regained her composure and continued down the carpet with Erivo keeping a protective arm around her. The premiere proceeded as scheduled, and all three actresses completed their promotional appearances for the film.
Wen was formally charged by Singapore courts on Friday afternoon following the incident and received his sentence shortly thereafter. Additional fan footage showed the man resisting security as he was removed from the event, with one witness claiming this was actually the second time security had needed to intervene.
