Man who grabbed Ariana Grande in Singapore charged with THIS
What's the story
A man who jumped the barricade and grabbed Hollywood singer-actor Ariana Grande at a recent premiere in Singapore has reportedly been charged with public nuisance on Friday. The incident took place at the Wicked: For Good premiere, where Grande was walking down the yellow carpet amid fans. The Australian man, identified as Johnson Wen, was seen pushing past photographers and grabbing Grande in a now-viral video.
Legal proceedings
Man intends to plead guilty
Wen was arrested following the incident on Thursday, but was granted bail for the time being. A day later, a Singapore court charged him with being a public nuisance, reported the BBC. The 26-year-old reportedly intends to plead guilty to the charges. If found guilty, he could face a fine of up to $2,000 ($1,540; £1,170). Local media reports suggest that Wen is unrepresented in this case.
Serial offender
Wen has a history of crashing celebrity events
Wen, who calls himself a "Troll Most Hated," has a known pattern of disrupting celebrity events. His Instagram is filled with clips of him interrupting concerts and appearances, including jumping on stage at Katy Perry's Sydney show in June and during The Chainsmokers's performance in the city last December. Fans had earlier called for his arrest or deportation following the incident with Grande.
Co-stars' actions
Wen was escorted away by security after the incident
During the incident, Grande looked shocked as she was grabbed by the intruder. Her co-stars Michelle Yeoh and Cynthia Erivo were seen comforting her while Wen was escorted away by security. Erivo has been especially praised for rushing to Grande's defense and placing herself between her and Wen before security intervened. Yeoh also reportedly consoled Grande after the incident.
Premiere details
More about 'Wicked' and its stars
The incident took place at the premiere of Wicked: For Good, a sequel to the 2024 blockbuster Wicked. The film is an adaptation of the popular Broadway and West End musical Wicked, which tells the story of two witches who form an unlikely friendship. Grande plays Glinda in this movie, while Erivo plays Elphaba.