An Australian man has been deported after rushing towards film star Ariana Grande during the Singapore premiere of “Wicked: For Good”. The incident occurred at Universal Studios in Singapore, where 26-year-old Johnson Wen jumped a barricade and approached Grande, prompting a swift response from security and her co-stars.
During the opening night event on March 15, 2024, Wen was seen putting his arm around Grande. Viral videos captured Cynthia Erivo, Grande’s co-star, intervening to protect her by pushing Wen away. Security personnel quickly apprehended him and removed him from the area.
Wen was arrested shortly after the incident and charged with “being a public nuisance.” Following a brief legal process, a Singapore court sentenced him to nine days in jail. After serving his time, he was deported back to Australia and is now barred from re-entering Singapore, according to a statement from the city-state’s immigration authority.
The presiding judge, Christopher Goh, characterized Wen’s actions as “attention seeking” and noted a troubling pattern of behavior that indicated he could repeat such actions in the future. The jail sentence was significantly less than the potential maximum penalty of three months in prison and a fine of $1,500.
Wen later expressed remorse for his actions in a video posted on Instagram, thanking Grande for letting him “jump on the Yellow Carpet” with her, a reference to the red carpet event. He acknowledged his mistake, stating he was “wrong” to think there would be no consequences for his behavior.
The incident highlighted the challenges of maintaining security at high-profile events, particularly when fan enthusiasm crosses boundaries. Grande and Erivo have developed a close bond during the promotional tour for the film, which was released in the United States on the same day as the premiere in Singapore.
In a previous interview, Erivo discussed the importance of mutual support during the production, emphasizing their commitment to looking out for one another. She remarked, “We knew neither of us could really do that alone,” underscoring the significance of collaboration in their roles.
As events like these continue to draw large crowds, the need for effective security measures remains vital to ensure the safety of both stars and fans alike. The swift action taken during the premiere serves as a reminder of the challenges faced by event organizers in managing such situations.
