Australian man deported after rushing Ariana Grande at Singapore premiere

An Australian man who rushed at singer and actress Ariana Grande during the Singapore premiere of Wicked: For Good has been deported and barred from returning to the country, according to the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA).

The ICA confirmed on Sunday that 26-year-old Johnson Wen was removed from Singapore following his conviction for public nuisance. Wen had previously pleaded guilty and served a nine-day jail term.

The incident occurred on 13 November at Resorts World Sentosa, during the official premiere of the film.

In footage that has since gone viral, Wen is seen leaping over a barricade before placing his arm around Grande and jumping alongside her. Co-star Cynthia Erivo swiftly intervened to separate them, and security personnel tackled Wen before escorting him off the premises.

The court heard that Wen’s actions caused significant disruption and alarm during the high-profile event. District Judge Christopher Goh, in sentencing Wen on 17 November, described his conduct as "attention-seeking" and criticised his mistaken belief that there would be no consequences for his actions in Singapore.

Wen had been remanded since 14 November and appeared in court unrepresented, pleading guilty via videolink. He was sentenced under Singapore’s public nuisance laws, which provide for penalties of up to S$2,000.

The man, who uses the online persona “Pyjama Man”, has gained notoriety for similar stunts involving celebrities. His social media accounts show prior unauthorised interactions with public figures such as Katy Perry and The Weeknd. In 2023, he ran onto the pitch during the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup final in India.

Following the Singapore incident, Wen posted a video of the interaction with Grande online, captioning it: “Dear Ariana Grande Thank You for letting me Jump on the Yellow Carpet with You ❤️.” The post drew significant backlash across social media platforms.

Grande, who was walking the yellow carpet at the time, appeared momentarily stunned by the intrusion. Although she continued engaging with fans after the event, several attendees noted a visible change in her demeanour. One comment observed: “After that, she was just surrounded by security, did her interview quickly, and left.”

The incident drew particular concern due to Grande’s past trauma. In May 2017, a bombing at her concert in Manchester claimed 22 lives. Grande has since spoken about experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) resulting from the attack. In a 2018 interview with British Vogue, she said: “It’s hard to talk about because so many people have suffered such severe, tremendous loss. But, yeah, it’s a real thing.”

Fans voiced their alarm over the potential psychological impact of the Sentosa incident. One wrote, “As a huge fan of Ariana, I’m relieved she’s safe, but I know this must’ve been triggering.” Another added, “After everything she’s been through, that man’s actions weren’t just disrespectful — they were reckless and selfish.”

Wen was seen leaving Sentosa by train shortly after the incident, prior to being taken into custody.

The incident has attracted global media attention, highlighting the risks of unauthorised interactions at public events.