A man who rushed onto the stage during the Singapore premiere of Wicked: For Good has been deported and banned from the city-state. Johnson Wen, a 26-year-old from Australia, was sent back to his home country on Sunday, November 12, 2023, following the incident that occurred at Universal Studios in Singapore. A spokesperson for the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) confirmed that Wen is barred from re-entering Singapore.
Wen’s actions at the event, held on November 13, resulted in a nine-day jail sentence for public nuisance. Video footage captured Wen jumping over a barricade and running towards Ariana Grande, briefly placing his arm around her before being intercepted by co-stars Cynthia Erivo and Michelle Yeoh. Erivo later expressed her concern for Grande’s safety, stating, “I just wanted to make sure my friend was safe.”
The incident has drawn attention to Wen’s past behavior, which includes rushing stages at concerts and sporting events. He gained notoriety on social media as the “Pyjama Man” after similar incidents, including ambushing celebrities at a Katy Perry concert in Sydney earlier this year.
In a message to NBC News, Wen described himself as a “mega fan” of Grande, expressing that he had always dreamed of meeting her. Following his return to Australia, he posted a video on Instagram thanking Grande for allowing him to participate in the event. Grande has not publicly commented on the incident, which has raised concerns among her fans.
A Singapore judge criticized Wen’s actions, labeling them as “attention-seeking” and highlighting the need for accountability. This incident has sparked further conversations about celebrity safety, especially considering Grande’s history with traumatic events, including the devastating bombing at her concert in Manchester in 2017, which resulted in 22 fatalities.
Meanwhile, Wicked: For Good has achieved remarkable success, grossing an estimated $150 million at the domestic box office and over $226 million globally during its opening weekend, setting a new record for Broadway adaptations. The film’s success underscores the popularity of the franchise, previously marked by the first Wicked film, which set similar records last year.
As the entertainment industry continues to celebrate such achievements, the safety of performers and their fans remains a crucial topic of discussion, particularly in the wake of incidents like the one involving Wen.
