A man has been deported from Singapore after rushing towards singer Ariana Grande during the premiere of “Wicked: For Good” on November 13, 2023. Johnson Wen, 26, was sent back to his home country of Australia and has been banned from re-entering Singapore, according to a spokesperson for the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA).
Wen was sentenced to nine days in jail for public nuisance following the incident at Universal Studios Singapore. Video footage captured Wen jumping over a barricade and approaching Grande, briefly placing his arm around her before intervention from co-stars Cynthia Erivo and Michelle Yeoh. Erivo later expressed her concern for Grande’s safety, stating, “I just wanted to make sure my friend was safe.”
The incident has raised significant concerns, particularly given Grande’s history with traumatic experiences. The singer has previously spoken publicly about her struggles with post-traumatic stress disorder following the 2017 bombing at her concert in Manchester, England, which resulted in 22 fatalities.
In the aftermath of the incident, Wen, who goes by the name “Pyjama Man” on Instagram, posted a video thanking Grande for “letting” him jump on the red carpet. He later told NBC News that he is a “mega fan” of Grande and had long dreamed of meeting her.
A judge in Singapore criticized Wen’s actions, labeling him as “attention-seeking” and indicating that he was misguided in believing his behavior would go without consequence.
The premiere incident drew criticism from fans and observers alike, highlighting the need for greater awareness regarding personal boundaries, especially for those in the public eye.
On a different note, Universal Pictures reported that “Wicked: For Good” achieved significant commercial success, earning an estimated $150 million at the domestic box office and $226 million globally in its opening weekend. This marked the largest opening for a Broadway adaptation, surpassing the previous record set by the first “Wicked” film last year.
As discussions continue around celebrity safety and fan interactions, the incident serves as a reminder of the potential risks that come with fame. Grande has not publicly commented on the situation since the premiere.
