Man Who Grabbed Ariana Grande at Singapore Event Charged With Public Nuisance

A man who leapt over a barricade and grabbed actress and singer Ariana Grande during a red-carpet event in Singapore has been formally charged with being a public nuisance. The incident, which unfolded at the Wicked: For Good premiere, sparked widespread outrage and prompted renewed concerns over celebrity security at public events.

The Australian man, Johnson Wen, was captured in a now-viral video rushing past photographers before lunging toward Grande as she walked the yellow carpet alongside her castmates. In the footage, co-star Cynthia Erivo can be seen pulling the shocked actress away and helping shield her from the intruder.

Wen, 26, had posted on Instagram late Thursday that he was “free after being arrested,” but on Friday afternoon he appeared in a Singapore court, where he was officially charged. Local media reported that Wen, who did not have legal representation, intends to plead guilty.

This is not Wen’s first disruptive stunt. On social media, he describes himself as a “Troll Most Hated,” and his Instagram feed contains multiple clips of him invading high-profile events. Earlier this year, he jumped on stage during Katy Perry’s concert in Sydney, and in December he interrupted a performance by The Chainsmokers.

If convicted, Wen could face a fine of up to S$2,000 (US$1,540; £1,170). Fans of the superstar had earlier called for him to be arrested and even deported, noting that such acts endanger artists and undermine event security.

Dozens of social media users expressed anger and fear after the incident. “There needs to be action taken against him as this is clearly a criminal offence,” one Instagram user wrote under Wen’s video. Others questioned how he had been able to repeatedly disrupt events without facing more serious consequences.

Many also pointed out the emotional impact such an incident could have on Grande, who has spoken publicly about suffering PTSD following the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing, where a suicide attacker killed 22 people at the end of her concert. “Ariana has been through so many scary things… and you still thought it would be funny to jump a barricade?” wrote another fan.

Several attendees criticized event security for not responding quickly enough, while others urged social media platforms to remove Wen’s videos to discourage further stunts.

Footage circulating online shows Grande visibly shaken after the encounter, as co-stars Michelle Yeoh and Cynthia Erivo comforted her. Security staff soon escorted Wen away from the scene.

Grande has not publicly commented on the incident, and the remainder of the premiere continued as planned. The BBC has reached out to Singapore police and immigration authorities for additional comments.