Fans Call for Detainment of Individual Who Grabbed Ariana Grande

Ariana Grande at Wicked premiere
Ariana Grande was in Singapore for the Asia-Pacific debut of Wicked: For Good

Devoted followers of Ariana Grande are urging that a man who breached a barrier and grabbed the actress during Thursday's Wicked: For Good debut be taken into custody or removed from Singapore.

A circulating video reveals the person identified as Johnson Wen bypassing media personnel and lunging at Grande while the performers made its way down a event pathway surrounded by fans.

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

Mr Wen shared on Instagram Thursday evening that he was "let go after being arrested", though court documents showed that he was scheduled to be present on the following morning. It is unknown if he was charged.

Pattern of Incidents

This is part of a pattern for Mr Wen, who describes himself as a "Notorious Troublemaker", has invaded a concert or event. His Instagram account includes clips of him disturbing other star-studded functions, including breaching the performance area at Katy Perry's Sydney performance in June this year and in a like fashion during The Chainsmokers concert in the city last December.

"Steps should be implemented applied against him as this is obviously a legal violation," stated an Instagram user, in a reply to a video Mr Wen posted of his act.

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

Fans Show Disapproval Over Ariana's Safety

Many followers criticized Mr Wen for "re-traumatising" Grande, who had spoken of suffering from trauma-related anxiety after a devastating incident at the conclusion of her spring 2017 concert in Manchester, resulting in the death of 22 people and injuring numerous individuals.

"Ariana has been through so many scary things... and at her Manchester concert and you thought it would be fun to jump the barricade?" wrote one more response on Instagram.

A number of fans also questioned security officers at the gathering for not being adequately prepared; while different individuals requested online networks to block Mr Wen's content.

Reaction and Premiere Information

In videos shared widely, Grande seemed surprised when she was approached by the man. Her co-stars Michelle Yeoh and Erivo can be spotted reassuring her while Mr Wen was escorted away by guards.

Grande has not issued a statement on the incident, and the premiere activities carried on uninterrupted.

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

Many of fans had congregated in a mass of green and pink at the Wicked: For Good regional launch in a Singapore shopping center, including a number who had waited for as long as a significant duration before it commenced.

The movie, to be launched on November 21, is the sequel of a two-film version of the well-known Broadway and West End production Wicked, which revolves around the unlikely friendship between two distinct witches.

The production itself is a adaptation of the twentieth-century story The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.

Grande, who plays the benevolent sorceress Glinda, was decked out in a champagne pink sequin dress at the premiere while Erivo, who portrays the villainous character, wore a elegant ensemble embroidered with roses.

They were accompanied by fellow actor Jeff Goldblum.

The previous installment, Wicked, was the most successful film of 2024 in the UK, and scored ten award recognitions, winning a pair for outstanding attire and set decoration.

Chad Lee
Chad Lee

A passionate linguist and storyteller with over a decade of experience in writing and education.