Man Charged After Rush to Grab Ariana Grande at Film Premiere

SINGAPORE — Johnson Wen, a 26-year-old Australian man, has been charged with being a public nuisance after he jumped over a barricade and grabbed actress Ariana Grande during the premiere of “Wicked: For Good” on Thursday night.

The incident occurred on the yellow carpet at Universal Studios Singapore as Wen rushed at Grande, prompting co-star Cynthia Erivo to step in and protect her. A viral video showed the chaos as security quickly intervened and escorted Wen away.

Wen, who is known on Instagram as Pyjama Man, often shares posts about his close encounters with celebrities. In one recent post, he claimed to be “free after being arrested.” He has previously disrupted other events, including concerts by Katy Perry and The Chainsmokers.

Following the incident, local media reported that Wen plans to plead guilty in court. If convicted, he faces a maximum fine of S$2,000 (approximately $1,540).

The event sparked outrage on social media, with many users criticizing Wen for his actions. Comments included demands for action against him and concerns about Grande’s safety, especially given her history of experiencing trauma from the 2017 Manchester attack.

Grande was visibly shaken after the incident but proceeded with the event. Security measures are under scrutiny, with fans questioning how Wen managed to breach barriers. The actors were at the premiere promoting the upcoming film, which is set to be released on November 21.

As for Wen, his actions have drawn widespread condemnation, with many commenters expressing disbelief that he had not faced legal consequences sooner.