Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
SINGAPORE HAS DEPORTED an Australian man at the end of a nine-day jail term for charging at film star Ariana Grande during the Asian premier of Wicked: For Good, local media reported.
The man, Johnson Wen, was sent back to Australia “and has been barred from re-entering Singapore”, the city-state’s immigration authority said in a statement quoted by broadcaster CNA.
On the opening night of the much-hyped Wicked sequel on 13 November, Wen jumped a barricade and put his arm around Grande.
Watch the moment a fan jumped the barrier and rushed at Ariana Grande as she was walking down the yellow carpet at the 'Wicked: For Good' premiere in Singapore.
— Sky News (@SkyNews) November 14, 2025
He was detained by security after jumping the barrier for a second time. pic.twitter.com/Q9yl488r8h
He was arrested hours later and subsequently charged with “being a public nuisance”. Last week, a court sentenced Wen to nine days in jail.
Video clips, which have gone viral online, show Wen wrapping his arm around the shocked star before jumping up and down and smilingly waving to the crowd.
Grande’s co-star Cynthia Erivo then rushes to her defence and the man is grabbed by security guards and dumped back over the barricade.
Singapore District Judge Christopher Goh, who issued the jail sentence, called the Australian “attention seeking”.
Wen, who is alleged to have disrupted other global sports events and concerts, “showed a pattern of behaviour” which suggested that he will do it again, the judge had said before last week’s ruling.
The jail term was far below the maximum penalty afforded by law: three months in jail, a fine of $1,500, or both.
Wen has told the court he was “wrong” to think his actions would bear no consequences and promised not to repeat the act.
The incident did not stop the premiere from going ahead, with the cast huddling around Grande before continuing down the yellow carpet.
Grande, 32, began her career as a teen on Broadway before embarking on a hugely successful pop career.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
have your say