Supporters Call for Arrest of Man Who Grabbed Ariana Grande

Ariana Grande at Wicked premiere
Ariana Grande visited Singapore for the Asia-Pacific premiere of Wicked: For Good

Loyal supporters of the actress are demanding that a man who leaped a barrier and seized the actress during yesterday's Wicked: For Good debut be detained or removed from Singapore.

A widely shared video depicts the person identified as Johnson Wen pushing past photographers and charging at Grande while the cast made its way down a event pathway accompanied by fans.

Co-star Cynthia Erivo quickly wrested the surprised actress away from Mr Wen, who was observed being led away of the event by event staff.

Mr Wen shared on Instagram recently that he was "released after being taken in", though court documents showed that he was scheduled to be present on the next day. It is unknown if he was faced legal action.

History of Incidents

This is not the first time for Mr Wen, who calls himself a "Troll Most Hated", has disrupted a celebrity gathering. His Instagram feed features videos of him disrupting other high-profile occasions, including jumping on stage at Katy Perry's Sydney performance in June this year and in a comparable manner during The Chainsmokers event in the city last December.

"Steps should be implemented taken against him as this is obviously a legal violation," commented an Instagram follower, in a reply to a video Mr Wen shared of his actions.

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

Fans Show Disapproval Over the Star's Past Trauma

Numerous fans blamed Mr Wen for "triggering past anxiety" Grande, who had revealed experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder after a suicide bomb attack at the conclusion of her 2017 show in Manchester, killing 22 people and injuring many.

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

Some supporters also faulted security officers at the Thursday event for not being sufficiently alert; while different individuals demanded online networks to ban Mr Wen's uploads.

Aftermath and Premiere Information

In videos shared widely, Grande seemed surprised when she was approached by the individual. Her cast members Michelle Yeoh and Erivo can be observed comforting her while Mr Wen was escorted away by security.

Grande has remained silent on the event, and the remaining proceedings continued without further issues.

Fans at Wicked premiere
Many of Singapore supporters had queued up to see the performers of Wicked

Hundreds of supporters had gathered in a sea of colorful attire at the Wicked: For Good international launch in a Singapore mall, including several who had stood in line for as long as many hours before it commenced.

The film, to be launched on 21 November, is the follow-up of a two-film adaptation of the acclaimed stage production Wicked, which centers on the unexpected bond between two very different witches.

The production itself is a derivative of the 1900 children's novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.

Grande, who portrays the good witch Glinda, was decked out in a light pink glittering gown at the event while Erivo, who acts as the Elphaba, wore a black tube gown featuring roses.

They were joined by fellow actor Jeff Goldblum.

The initial film, Wicked, was the highest-grossing movie of 2024 in the UK, and earned ten Oscar nominations, winning two for best costume and production design.

Mary Butler
Mary Butler

A wellness coach and sustainability advocate with over a decade of experience in holistic health and mindful living practices.