A man in Singapore has been jailed after grabbing Ariana Grande during a movie premiere.
The incident shocked fans as security rushed in and stopped him from further attempts.
An Australian man has been sentenced to nine days in prison in Singapore after grabbing American singer and actress Ariana Grande during the Asia premiere of Wicked: For Good.
The court found 26-year-old Johnson Wen guilty of public nuisance for the incident, which took place last Thursday and quickly went viral.
Videos shared on social media show Wen leaping over the barriers, rushing toward a stunned Grande and grabbing her by the shoulders while jumping excitedly. The moment shocked both fans and security officials, and many in Singapore called for his immediate arrest and deportation.
Critics also accused Wen of “re-traumatizing” the pop star, who has spoken openly about suffering post-traumatic stress disorder after the 2017 Manchester Arena attack that killed 22 people and injured hundreds.
During the trial on Monday, the court heard that Wen tried to force his way into the premiere area twice. After he grabbed Grande, her co-star Cynthia Erivo stepped in, prying him away before security officers escorted him out. Wen then attempted a second breach of the barricades, but security stopped him and pinned him down.
Despite being removed from the venue, Wen later posted videos on his social media accounts thanking Grande and declaring that he was “free”. Police arrested him the next day and charged him with public nuisance. He pleaded guilty.
Prosecutors asked the court to impose a one-week jail term, describing Wen as a “serial intruder” who repeatedly seeks attention by disrupting public events. He has previously posted clips of himself interrupting concerts by Katy Perry and The Weeknd and running onto the field at sporting events.
Reports in Australia say he is already banned from some stadiums and has received several fines. Wen represented himself in court and told the judge he would “not do it again”. Under Singaporean law, the offence carries a possible sentence of up to three months in prison, a fine of up to S$2,000, or both.
Ariana Grande has not commented publicly on the case. She has continued attending events in Los Angeles. Erivo, however, seemed to reference the incident two days later when she reflected on her bond with Grande during filming, saying, “We have come through some stuff in our lives, our daily workings… even this last week, let’s be honest.”
