A man has been deported from Singapore after rushing towards singer Ariana Grande during the premiere of “Wicked: For Good” on November 13, 2023. The individual, identified as Johnson Wen, 26, was sent back to his home country of Australia on Sunday and has been permanently banned from re-entering Singapore, according to a spokesperson from the Singapore Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA).
Wen was sentenced to nine days in jail for public nuisance following the incident at Universal Studios in Singapore. Video footage captured him jumping over a barricade and approaching Grande, where he briefly placed his arm around her before being intercepted by co-stars Cynthia Erivo and Michelle Yeoh, among others. Erivo later expressed her concerns for Grande’s safety, stating, “I just wanted to make sure my friend was safe,” adding that she believed Wen did not intend any harm.
The incident has raised alarms given Grande’s past experiences with trauma, notably after a bombing at her concert in Manchester, England, in 2017, which resulted in 22 fatalities. Fans of Grande have criticized Wen’s actions, considering the emotional toll such incidents can have on the artist.
Wen, also known as “Pyjama Man” on Instagram, has a documented history of similar behaviors, having previously rushed stages at concerts and sporting events. This includes an incident at a Katy Perry concert in Sydney in June. Following his arrest, Wen posted an Instagram video thanking Grande for “letting” him jump onto the red carpet.
In a message to NBC News, Wen described himself as a “mega fan” of Grande, stating that he had “dreamed about meeting her.” During sentencing, a Singapore judge labeled Wen’s behavior as “attention-seeking,” warning him that such actions would have consequences.
Following the premiere, “Wicked: For Good” has seen significant success, grossing an estimated $150 million at the domestic box office and $226 million globally, marking the largest opening weekend for a Broadway adaptation. This record surpasses the previous best set by the first “Wicked” film last year.
While Grande has not publicly commented on the incident, the events surrounding the premiere serve as a reminder of the pressures faced by public figures and the importance of maintaining boundaries at such high-profile events.
