🔗 Share this article

Loyal fans of Ariana Grande are demanding that a person who breached a barricade and seized the actress during Thursday's Wicked: For Good launch be taken into custody or deported from Singapore.

A circulating video depicts the person identified as Johnson Wen shoving aside media personnel and charging at Grande while the performers proceeded down a yellow carpet accompanied by fans.

Cast member Cynthia Erivo promptly guided the shocked actress away from Mr Wen, who was spotted being removed of the premiere by guards.

Mr Wen stated on Instagram late on Thursday that he was "released after being detained", though official papers revealed that he was set to attend court on the next day. It is not clear if he was charged.

History of Incidents

This is part of a pattern for Mr Wen, who calls himself a "Controversial Figure", has disrupted a celebrity gathering. His Instagram feed includes clips of him interrupting other celebrity events, including jumping on stage at Katy Perry's Sydney concert in June this year and in a comparable manner during The Chainsmokers performance in the city last winter.

"Measures must be taken enforced against him as this is evidently a legal violation," commented an Instagram user, in a response to a video Mr Wen posted of his actions.

"You've done this repeatedly... how are you not behind bars?" a different Instagram user remarked.

Followers Show Disapproval Over Ariana's Well-being

Several supporters accused Mr Wen for "triggering past anxiety" Grande, who had discussed dealing with trauma-related anxiety after a terrorist explosion at the conclusion of her May 2017 performance in Manchester, claiming the lives of 22 people and harming many.

"After everything she's faced... including the Manchester attack, you considered it entertaining to rush the barrier?" said a further response on Instagram.

A number of attendees also criticised event staff at the premiere for not being vigilant enough; while some called for social media platforms to ban Mr Wen's content.

Response and Event Details

In clips shared widely, Grande looked startled when she was grabbed by the individual. Her cast members Michelle Yeoh and Erivo can be observed reassuring her while Mr Wen was escorted away by security.

Grande has remained silent on the situation, and the premiere activities proceeded as normal.

Numerous of supporters had gathered in a mass of green and pink at the Wicked: For Good regional launch in a Singapore mall, including some who had waited for as long as many hours before it commenced.

The movie, to be released on November 21, is the sequel of a two-film version of the acclaimed Broadway and West End musical Wicked, which centers on the unlikely friendship between two very different witches.

The show itself is a derivative of the 1900 story The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.

Grande, who portrays the good witch Glinda, was adorned in a light pink glittering gown at the gathering while Erivo, who acts as the wicked witch, wore a black tube gown featuring roses.

They were joined by cast member Jeff Goldblum.

The initial film, Wicked, was the top-earning movie of 2024 in the UK, and scored a dozen Oscar nominations, earning a pair for outstanding attire and artistic direction.