Fans Demand Custody of Man Who Touched Ariana Grande

Ariana Grande at Wicked premiere
Ariana Grande was in Singapore for the regional debut of Wicked: For Good

Passionate fans of the pop star are urging that a man who leaped a barricade and grabbed the actress during Thursday's Wicked: For Good premiere be detained or deported from Singapore.

A viral clip shows the person identified as Johnson Wen bypassing media personnel and rushing toward Grande while the performers proceeded down a yellow carpet accompanied by fans.

Co-star Cynthia Erivo promptly pulled the stunned performer away from Mr Wen, who was seen being escorted out of the gathering by event staff.

Mr Wen shared on Instagram Thursday evening that he was "released after being taken in", though legal records showed that he was due to be present on the following morning. It is unknown if he was formally accused.

History of Event Invasions

This is not an isolated incident for Mr Wen, who describes himself as a "Notorious Troublemaker", has crashed a celebrity gathering. His Instagram profile includes clips of him interrupting other high-profile occasions, including jumping on stage at the artist's Sydney concert in June this year and in a like fashion during The Chainsmokers event in the area last December.

"Measures must be taken taken against him as this is evidently a criminal offence," wrote an Instagram commenter, in a response to a video Mr Wen posted of his actions.

"This appears to be a habit... why are you not imprisoned?" one Instagram user questioned.

Followers Express Concern Over Grande's Safety

Several supporters blamed Mr Wen for "triggering past anxiety" Grande, who had discussed suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder after a devastating incident at the finale of her spring 2017 performance in Manchester, claiming the lives of 22 people and injuring hundreds.

"Ariana has been through so many scary things... and at her Manchester concert and you thought it would be fun to jump the barricade?" wrote another response on Instagram.

A number of supporters also questioned guards at the premiere for not being vigilant enough; while some requested social media platforms to block Mr Wen's videos.

Reaction and Premiere Information

In footage shared widely, Grande seemed shocked when she was touched by the intruder. Her co-stars Michelle Yeoh and Erivo can be spotted reassuring her while Mr Wen was escorted away by security.

Grande has not commented on the situation, and the rest of the event proceeded as normal.

Fans at Wicked premiere
Hundreds of Singapore fans had lined up to meet the actors of Wicked

Many of attendees had assembled in a sea of green and pink at the Wicked: For Good regional debut in a Singapore venue, including some who had stood in line for as long as a significant duration before it started.

The motion picture, to be released on November 21, is the sequel of a two-part version of the popular Broadway and West End production Wicked, which focuses on the unlikely friendship between two very different characters.

The show itself is a derivative of the twentieth-century children's novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.

Grande, who plays the benevolent sorceress Glinda, was decked out in a rosé sequin dress at the event while Erivo, who portrays the villainous character, wore a sleek black dress featuring roses.

They were joined by fellow actor Jeff Goldblum.

The initial film, Wicked, was the top-earning motion picture of 2024 in the UK, and earned 10 award recognitions, earning a pair for outstanding attire and set decoration.

Leslie Kirby
Leslie Kirby

A passionate mountaineer and landscape photographer who documents high-altitude expeditions and shares insights on sustainable outdoor exploration.