An Australian man with a history of disrupting major events has been sentenced to jail after rushing pop superstar Ariana Grande during the Singapore premiere of Wicked: For Good last week.
The Yellow Carpet Incident
Johnson Wen, 26, vaulted over a barricade and ran directly toward Ariana Grande while she was engaging with fans on the distinctive yellow carpet. The Australian man immediately put his arm around the startled singer and began jumping up and down, causing visible shock and discomfort to the pop icon.
Grande's co-star Cynthia Erivo demonstrated quick thinking by intervening immediately, pushing Wen away from Grande while firmly stating: "Get off her, don't touch her." Veteran actress Michelle Yeoh, who portrays Madame Morrible in the film, stepped in to comfort the shaken Grande as security personnel moved in to detain the intruder.
Court Proceedings and Sentencing
Wen was arrested hours after the incident and formally charged with being a public nuisance. Singapore District Judge Christopher Goh described the act as premeditated during court proceedings before handing down a nine-day jail sentence.
This punishment falls significantly below the maximum penalty available under Singaporean law, which allows for three months imprisonment, a fine of $1,500, or both. Wen appeared via videolink dressed in a plain white shirt and initially seemed confused when prosecutors read the charge against him, though he ultimately entered a guilty plea.
Judge Goh expressed concern about Wen's behavioral pattern, stating: "You seem to be attention seeking, thinking only of yourself and not the safety of others when committing these acts." The judge emphasized that Wen was wrong to believe his actions would bear no consequences.
History of Disruptive Behavior
This incident represents just the latest in a series of public disruptions by the Australian man, who has gained notoriety as a serial pest and stage invader. Wen maintains an active social media presence where he documents his antics.
His previous targets include:
- Katy Perry concert in Sydney several months ago
- The Weeknd concert at Melbourne's Marvel Stadium last year
- 2024 Paris Olympics men's 100m final
- 2023 Cricket World Cup Final where he approached Virat Kohli
Wen has faced previous penalties for similar behavior, including a $220 fine for a rugby pitch invasion in January 2021 and a $250 fine for dangling from a Brisbane footbridge in November 2020.
Following the Grande incident, Wen posted footage of the confrontation on TikTok with the caption: "Dear Ariana Grande thanks for letting me jump on the yellow carpet with you."
Despite telling the judge "I won't do it again, Your Honour. I am going to stop getting into trouble," the court determined that a jail sentence was necessary to send a clear message that Singapore will not tolerate behavior that threatens its reputation as a safe country.
