Celebrities must be on high alert when they are in public events, where random people can do something wild in an attempt to go viral. From rushing stages to ignoring personal boundaries, it can get scary. Ariana Grande was the latest victim, with a viral video showing a 26-year-old man named Johnson Wen rushing at her at the ‘Wicked: For Good’ premiere in Singapore, grabbing her around her neck and shoulders.
In the clip, a tiny Grande looked terrified as he broke through barriers with her Wicked co-star Cynthia Erivo, putting her own body on the line to protect her. He didn't even learn his lesson the first time; he attempted another barricade jump before being taken down, per the BBC. He was arrested on Friday, per the LA Times.
It was a scary scene, but Singapore wasted no time making an example of Wen, who is from Australia and was there on a 90-day tourist visa. He has already been convicted and pleaded guilty to being a public nuisance, a charge that can carry up to a three-month sentence, according to Singapore’s Straits Times.
The judge ordered Wen, who goes by “Pyjama Man”, to spend nine days in jail, adding two extra days because of his track record. It's not the first time the "serial intruder" has caused a scene.
He’s pulled stunts like this at the 2024 Olympics in Paris and has rushed at Katy Perry, The Weeknd, and The Chainsmokers on stage, previously walking away without real consequences. This time, Singapore made sure that wasn’t happening.
The judge didn’t buy his “I won’t do it again” apology, calling him “attention-seeking, “thinking only of yourself, and not the safety of others, when committing these acts.”
Judging by the comments on Wen’s own Instagram, where he posted the video with the caption, “Dear Ariana Grande, Thank You for letting me jump on the Yellow Carpet with you,” it's clear he’s proud of his actions.
Meanwhile, Grande kept it moving. She continued her press tour with the cast, never addressing the incident publicly. By the weekend, she was back in L.A., attending a Q&A for the film in Century City and then the Governors Awards, where she was spotted talking to Tom Cruise.
The U.S. premiere of “Wicked: For Good” is in New York, just days before the movie’s nationwide release on Thursday. Hopefully, she doesn't have to deal with any more shenanigans.