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Singapore deports man who grabbed Ariana Grande at film premiere
Singapore has deported and permanently banned an Australian man who breached security and grabbed pop star Ariana Grande during the Asian premiere of Wicked: For Good on 13 November, authorities confirmed on Sunday.
Incident and immediate aftermath
Johnson Wen, 26, forced his way past photographers and lunged at Grande on the red carpet before co-star Cynthia Erivo intervened, pulling him away. Security personnel later detained Wen after a second failed attempt to bypass barricades, according to court records.
Wen posted online videos afterward, falsely claiming Grande had permitted his access and declaring himself "free." Police arrested him the following day on public nuisance charges, to which he pleaded guilty.
Legal consequences
A Singapore district court sentenced Wen to nine days in prison. Judge Christopher Goh condemned his "attention-seeking" behavior, emphasizing that such actions carry "serious consequences," as reported by Channel News Asia. The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) subsequently barred Wen from re-entering Singapore.
History of disruptions
Wen has a documented pattern of targeting high-profile events. In June 2025, he rushed the stage during Katy Perry's Sydney concert. His trial revealed he had made two separate attempts to intrude on the Wicked premiere before his arrest.
Reactions and context
The incident drew widespread criticism in Singapore, with many accusing Wen of exacerbating Grande's trauma. The singer has previously discussed her struggle with PTSD following the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing, which killed 22 and injured hundreds during her concert.
"I just wanted to make sure my friend was safe. I'm sure he didn't mean us harm, but you never know with those things," Erivo told NBC, describing her instinct to protect Grande.
Cynthia Erivo, Wicked co-star
Grande has not publicly addressed the incident.
