A Singapore court has sentenced Australian citizen Johnson Wen to nine days in prison for an incident involving Hollywood star Ariana Grande at the Asia premiere of Wicked: For Good. The 26-year-old was found guilty of public nuisance during the high-profile event. Witnesses and videos on social media depicted Wen jumping over barriers and approaching Grande, grabbing her shoulders while jumping excitedly.
This event has drawn significant attention in Singapore, with public calls for Wen’s arrest and deportation, particularly due to his prior history of disruptive behavior at concerts and celebrity events. Many expressed concern about the psychological impact of the incident on Grande, who has previously discussed her experiences with post-traumatic stress disorder, stemming from a violent attack at her concert in Manchester in 2017.
During Wen’s trial, the court learned that he made two attempts to enter the premiere. After contacting Grande, he was quickly pulled away by her co-star Cynthia Erivo and escorted out by security personnel. Wen attempted to breach the barricades again but was subdued and arrested by police the next day.
Wen subsequently pleaded guilty to the charge of public nuisance, with prosecutors describing him as a “serial intruder” who seeks online fame through such actions. He has a record of similar disruptions at concerts and sporting events, leading to bans from certain venues and significant fines.
In his defense, Wen stated he would “not do it again.” Under Singaporean law, he faced a possible maximum penalty of three months in jail, a fine of S$2,000, or both. Grande has not publicly commented on the incident but has since continued her public engagements. Erivo indirectly referenced the situation in remarks about her relationship with Grande during the filming of the movie.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c2dr6y0w3rjo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss