Security Breach at Wicked Premiere as Fan Charges at Ariana Grande
Ariana Grande was left visibly shaken after a crazed fan vaulted a barricade and charged directly at her during the Singapore premiere of Wicked: For Good at Universal Studios. The incident occurred on Thursday, when online prankster Johnson Wen, known as 'Pyjama Man', blew past security and latched onto the pop star, wrapping an arm around her as she struggled to pull away.
Co-star Cynthia Erivo immediately intervened, shouting at Wen while throwing herself between him and Ariana. Security personnel then tackled the intruder and dragged him off the yellow carpet. The quick actions of Erivo and security prevented a more serious physical altercation, but the psychological impact on Grande was immediately apparent.
A Troubling Pattern of Celebrity Harassment
Hours after the ambush, Wen uploaded a chilling selfie to social media with manic eyes, pointing at an Ariana Grande poster and bragging, 'I finally met Ariana Grande tonight.' He didn't stop there, posting a video saying, 'Finally, I dreamed about meeting Ariana Grande and my dream became true,' followed by a maniacal laugh. He even reposted footage of the red carpet incident, captioning it: 'Dear Ariana Grande Thank You for letting me Jump on the Yellow Carpet with You.'
According to the BBC, Wen has now been hit with a public nuisance charge. Local reports indicate he intends to plead guilty and could face a fine of up to $1,540. This is not his first offence; Wen has built a notorious reputation for harassing celebrities, having previously accosted Katy Perry, The Weeknd, and The Chainsmokers at their events.
In June, he was charged with two offences after interrupting Katy Perry's Sydney concert: entering enclosed land and obstructing a person in performance of work or duties. He was also issued with a notice barring him from the Sydney Olympic Park Precinct for six months. His history of disruptive behaviour includes receiving a $250 fine for dangling from a Brisbane footbridge in 2020 and a $220 fine for a pitch invasion at a 2021 rugby union match.
Fury from Fans and Lasting Trauma
Fans quickly flooded social media with outrage over the incident. One wrote: 'Do you think this is okay? This is sick! It ruined the experience for fans who dreamed of this moment and put lives at risk. All for pure ego! Seek help.' Another slammed him: 'You literally assaulted her. This isn't a flex, it's a crime. Shame on you!'
Many referenced Ariana Grande's past traumas, including the Manchester bombing that killed 22 people at her concert in 2017 and her ex Mac Miller's overdose. One fan commented: 'After all the trauma Ari has been through, this is beyond disrespectful. Not just to her, but to the cast and to all the fans. It's literally infuriating. You should be ashamed.'
Grande has previously spoken openly about her struggles with PTSD following the Manchester attack. In a 2018 interview with British Vogue, she said: 'Yeah, it's a real thing. I know those families and my fans, and everyone there experienced a tremendous amount of it as well.' Her then-manager Scooter Braun revealed in 2020 that on the three-year anniversary of the bombing, the pop star was still grappling with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
Wen, who is unemployed and was last known to be living in a backpackers hostel, is said to have racked up $20,000 in fines for his various stunts. Despite telling media outlets he planned to quit crashing red carpets and stages because 'you get in way too much trouble for it,' his actions at the Wicked premiere demonstrate his continued pattern of behaviour.
After being released following the incident, Wen posted that he was 'free,' while Ariana Grande, supported by her co-stars, was left to process another violation of her personal safety. The event continued with Grande and Erivo holding hands, a show of solidarity in the face of the alarming security breach.
