Man Who Grabbed Ariana Grande in Singapore Faces Court Over Public Nuisance

A shocking incident occurred during the Asia-Pacific premiere of Wicked: For Good in Singapore, when 26-year-old Australian Johnson Wen jumped over a barricade and grabbed Ariana Grande. Viral footage shows Wen pushing past photographers, while co-stars Cynthia Erivo and Michelle Yeoh quickly intervene to protect the stunned singer.

Wen, who calls himself the “Troll Most Hated” on Instagram, has a history of disrupting celebrity events, including concerts by Katy Perry and The Chainsmokers. He has now been charged in a Singapore court with being a public nuisance. If convicted, he could face a fine of up to S$2,000 ($1,540). Wen has indicated he intends to plead guilty.

Fans expressed outrage, noting the incident may have re-traumatized Grande, who has spoken openly about post-traumatic stress following the 2017 Manchester concert bombing. Criticism was also directed at the event’s security and calls emerged to ban Wen’s social media accounts.

Despite the incident, Ariana Grande did not comment, and the premiere continued as planned. Hundreds of fans queued for up to eight hours to see Grande as Glinda, alongside co-stars Erivo and Jeff Goldblum. The film is set for release on 21 November.