15th November 2025 – (Singapore) An Australian man who vaulted a barrier and seized Ariana Grande at the Asia‑Pacific premiere of Wicked: For Good in Singapore has been charged with causing a public nuisance.
Footage shared widely online shows the suspect, identified as 26‑year‑old Johnson Wen, forcing his way past photographers and rushing at Grande as the cast moved along a yellow carpet flanked by fans. Co‑star Cynthia Erivo intervened, pulling the visibly shaken singer‑actress away as security closed in. Grande’s fellow cast members Michelle Yeoh and Erivo were later seen consoling her while the man was escorted from the scene.
Wen posted on Instagram late on Thursday claiming he was “free after being arrested”, but a Singapore court charged him on Friday afternoon. Local media reported he appeared without legal representation and intends to plead guilty. If convicted, he faces a fine of up to S$2,000 (about $1,540; £1,170). Authorities have not commented on whether immigration action is being considered.
The incident has provoked anger in Singapore, with fans calling for strong penalties and, in some cases, deportation. Critics on social media also accused Wen of re‑traumatising Grande, who has previously spoken about post‑traumatic stress following the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing that killed 22 people and injured hundreds at the end of her concert. Others questioned security arrangements at the event and urged social media platforms to remove Wen’s videos.
Wen, who describes himself online as “Troll Most Hated”, has a history of breaching stages and red carpets. His social media accounts show similar intrusions, including running on stage during Katy Perry’s concert in Sydney in June and disrupting a performance by The Chainsmokers last December.
Grande has not publicly addressed the episode. Despite the disruption, the premiere continued as scheduled at a Singapore shopping mall, where hundreds of fans—many dressed in green and pink and some queueing for up to eight hours—had gathered to meet the cast.
Grande, who portrays Glinda the Good Witch, wore a champagne‑pink sequinned dress, while Erivo, who plays Elphaba, appeared in a black, rose‑embroidered tube gown. They were joined by Jeff Goldblum, who stars as the Wizard. Wicked: For Good, the second instalment of the two‑part adaptation of the hit stage musical Wicked—spun from L. Frank Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz—is due for release on 21 November. The first film, Wicked, was the UK’s highest‑grossing film of 2024 and earned 10 Oscar nominations, winning for best costume and production design.
