Man charged with public nuisance for rushing Ariana Grande at Wicked premiere

An Australian man has been charged with public nuisance after rushing American pop star and actress Ariana Grande during the Wicked: For Good premiere at Universal Studios Singapore on 13 November.

Johnson Wen, 26, who operates under the online moniker “Pyjama Man”, appeared in court via videolink the following afternoon. Dressed in a white shirt and unrepresented by legal counsel, he informed the court he would be pleading guilty.

Under Singapore law, a conviction for public nuisance can result in a fine of up to S$2,000 (US$1,538).

The breach occurred while Grande was walking the yellow carpet at the film's Singapore premiere.

Videos circulating online show Wen leaping over a barricade and rushing toward her. He placed his arm around her and began jumping, before co-star Cynthia Erivo quickly intervened. Security officers then subdued and escorted him out of the event space.

CNA Lifestyle reported that Wen was subsequently seen leaving Sentosa by train shortly after the incident.

The unauthorised approach drew swift criticism from fans and observers, particularly given Grande’s well-documented experience with trauma. In May 2017, a bombing at her concert in Manchester killed 22 people. Grande has since spoken openly about living with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a result of 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.”

Footage of the Singapore incident shows Grande momentarily frozen as Wen approached. While she resumed interacting with fans shortly after, several attendees noted a shift in her demeanour. One user commented online, “After that, she was just surrounded by security, did her interview quickly, and left.”

Fans expressed concern over the emotional impact the incident might have had. One comment read, “As a huge fan of Ariana, I’m relieved she’s safe, but I know this must’ve been triggering. I hope this doesn’t set her back.”

Another wrote, “After everything she’s been through, that man’s actions weren’t just disrespectful — they were reckless and selfish.”

Wen’s social media accounts include several videos of similar stunts involving celebrities such as Katy Perry and The Weeknd. In 2023, he ran onto the field during the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup final in India, gaining notoriety for his public disruptions.

After the incident with Grande, Wen posted a video of himself approaching her, captioning it: “Dear Ariana Grande Thank You for letting me Jump on the Yellow Carpet with You ❤️.” The post was widely condemned across platforms.