An Australian man has been deported after rushing towards film star Ariana Grande during the Singapore premiere of “Wicked: For Good”. The incident occurred on March 15, 2024, at Universal Studios, where the 26-year-old, identified as Johnson Wen, jumped a barricade and approached Grande, placing his arm around her. Local authorities arrested Wen shortly after the event and he served a nine-day jail term before being sent back to Australia.
Wen’s actions caused a significant disruption during the premiere, which was attended by several high-profile stars. Viral videos captured the moment Cynthia Erivo, Grande’s co-star, quickly intervened. Erivo moved in between Wen and Grande, pushing him away to ensure the actress’s safety. Security personnel promptly removed Wen from the scene and he was arrested hours later, facing charges of “being a public nuisance.”
The Singapore Immigration Authority confirmed that Wen has been barred from re-entering the city-state. According to reports from local broadcaster CNA, Wen expressed gratitude towards Grande after the incident, sharing a video on Instagram where he thanked her for allowing him to “jump on the Yellow Carpet” with her.
At his sentencing, Singapore District Judge Christopher Goh characterized Wen’s behavior as “attention seeking.” The judge noted that Wen had previously demonstrated a pattern of disruptive behavior at various global events, indicating a likelihood of reoffending. He received a sentence of nine days in jail, which is considerably less than the maximum penalty of three months’ imprisonment or a fine of $1,500 SGD.
During the court proceedings, Wen acknowledged that he was “wrong” to assume his actions would go unpunished and committed to refraining from such behavior in the future. He faced significant backlash for his actions, which overshadowed the premiere of a highly anticipated film.
The event was a significant milestone for both Grande and Erivo, who have been closely collaborating throughout the promotional tour for “Wicked: For Good”. In a previous interview with “CBS Mornings,” Erivo revealed that she and Grande made a pact to support each other during the filming process.
Despite the turmoil of the incident, the film was released in the United States shortly after its premiere, and its promotional efforts continue to highlight the bond between the lead actors.
