Incident at Singapore premiere
A 26‑year‑old Australian man, identified as Johnson Wen, was formally charged this week after he rushed past security and grabbed Ariana Grande during the Asia premiere of the film Wicked: For Good at Universal Studios Singapore. Video footage from the yellow carpet shows Wen jumping over barricades and wrapping his arm around Grande as co‑star Cynthia Erivo and others intervened and security pulled him away.
Charges and possible penalties
Wen has been charged with “being a public nuisance” in a Singapore court. He faces a maximum fine of up to S$2,000 (approximately USD 1,500) and potentially a short jail term of up to three months if convicted.
Court documents indicate that Wen intends to plead guilty and appeared unrepresented during his hearing.
The accused’s background & pattern of behaviour
Johnson Wen is known online for repeatedly crashing celebrity events. He goes by the Instagram handle “pyjamamann” and has previously invaded concerts and red carpets, including those of Katy Perry and The Weeknd. Wen later posted a video of the incident on Instagram with the caption: “Dear Ariana Grande Thank You for letting me Jump on the Yellow Carpet with You”.
Reaction and context
Grande, who survived a terrorist bombing at a 2017 concert in Manchester and has spoken publicly about her struggles with anxiety and PTSD, appeared visibly shaken after the Singapore incident.
Many fans and commentators condemned the stunt as dangerous and traumatising given her past experiences.
What happens next
The next hearing in Singapore is scheduled for early next week, where Wen’s plea will be formally registered and legal proceedings will continue. Security protocols at high‑profile events are expected to come under review in the wake of the incident.
The takeaway
What may have started as a misguided fan stunt quickly escalated into a serious legal matter. The incident underscores how breaches of security at public events can carry substantial legal consequences and cause real emotional harm — especially when the subject is a celebrity with a known trauma history.
