A Singapore court on Monday sentenced a 26-year-old Australian man to nine days in jail for rushing pop star Ariana Grande during the Asian premiere of Wicked: For Good. The incident occurred last week at Universal Studios Singapore, where Grande and fellow cast members were appearing for the film’s opening night. Court documents identified the man as Johnson Wen, who jumped a barricade and wrapped his arm around the stunned actor.
Viral videos from the event show Grande caught off guard as Wen put his arm around her and waved excitedly at the crowd. Her co-star Cynthia Erivo quickly stepped in before security personnel intervened, pulling Wen back over the barrier. He was later arrested and charged with being a public nuisance.
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District Judge Christopher Goh described Wen’s behaviour as “premeditated,” noting that the sentence — nine days in jail — was significantly below the legal maximum of three months or a $1,500 fine. The judge said Wen had shown a “pattern of behaviour” at global sporting events and concerts, suggesting he might repeat such actions. “You seem to be attention seeking… You should be mindful that there are always consequences,” Goh warned.
Wen, appearing via videolink in a plain white shirt, initially appeared confused by the charge but pleaded guilty. When given the chance to address the court, he said he would not repeat the behaviour. Judge Goh emphasised the need to send a message to others that such actions could undermine Singapore’s reputation as a safe destination.
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With four days already spent in custody, Wen will serve another five. It remains unclear whether additional charges will be considered after his release. Despite the disruption, the premiere continued as planned, with cast members gathering around Grande before proceeding down the yellow carpet. Grande, now 32, has previously faced traumatic incidents, including the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing that killed 22 people during one of her concerts.