Man Who Grabbed Ariana Grande at ‘Wicked: For Good’ Premiere Sentenced to Prison

An Australian man received a nine-day jail sentence in Singapore for rushing towards Ariana Grande and touching her during the premiere of Wicked: For Good.

A Singapore court convicted 26-year-old Johnson Wen of disturbing the peace last Thursday, according to local news reports.

Viral videos show a man jumping over security barriers and running towards Ariana Grande, startling her as he briefly grabbed her shoulders and jumped around. The incident sparked widespread outrage in Singapore, with many calling for his arrest and deportation.

Many people also noted that Grande has previously discussed her struggles with PTSD following the 2017 bombing at her Manchester concert, and expressed concern that this situation could be re-traumatizing for her.

Cynthia Erivo protects Ariana Grande from a ‘Wicked: For Good’ premiere attendee.

— Pop Base (@PopBase) November 13, 2025

According to reports from Singapore, a man named Wen attempted to enter the premiere event twice. He initially grabbed Ariana Grande, but her co-star, Cynthia Erivo, intervened before security removed him. Wen then tried to bypass security again, but guards stopped and restrained him.

After the incident, Wen shared a post on social media thanking Ariana Grande and saying he felt “free.” However, the following day, police arrested him, and he later pleaded guilty to disturbing the peace in court.

Prosecutors explained to the court that Wen has repeatedly disrupted concerts and events featuring celebrities, seemingly to get attention. They labeled him a ‘serial intruder,’ highlighting this ongoing behavior.

Reports from Australia indicate he’s faced fines and stadium bans in the past for running onto the field during events or interrupting performances by artists such as Katy Perry and The Weeknd.

Wen appeared in court without a lawyer and promised the judge he wouldn’t repeat his offense. If convicted under Singaporean law, he could have been sentenced to up to three months in jail or fined as much as S$2,000.

Ariana Grande hasn’t commented publicly on the situation, but she was seen at events in Los Angeles over the weekend. Cynthia Erivo hinted at the incident a couple of days later, speaking about her close relationship with Grande while filming and saying they’ve supported each other through difficult times, ‘even just this past week.’

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2025-11-17 17:47