Australian Man Charged After Disrupting Ariana Grande Premiere in Singapore
An Australian man has been charged with being a public nuisance following an incident at the Singapore premiere of “Wicked: For Good” on Thursday, where he rushed the stage and made unwanted physical contact with Ariana Grande. The incident, captured in numerous videos circulating online, has sparked outrage and renewed conversations about celebrity safety and the boundaries of fandom.
The man, identified as Johnson Wen, 26, who goes by the name Pyjama Man on Instagram, allegedly jumped a barricade and ran toward Grande as she greeted fans on a yellow carpet. Videos show him grabbing her around the neck and shoulders before security intervened. According to reports from the BBC, Wen was subsequently arrested, charged, and released. If convicted, he could face a fine exceeding $1,500 in U.S. dollars.
Cynthia Erivo, Grande’s co-star in “Wicked,” along with Jeff Goldblum and Michelle Yeoh, reacted swiftly, with Erivo stepping between the man and Grande and appearing to confront him. Security personnel quickly escorted Wen away from the visibly shaken actress.
Wen has a history of similar disruptive behavior, identifying himself as a “stage invader” on social media. He has previously interrupted events including a Paris Olympics track and field competition and multiple soccer matches. His Instagram account, where he refers to himself as a “Troll Most Hated,” features media coverage of his actions, seemingly presented as accolades. He even posted about the Singapore incident, writing in the caption of a video, “Dear Ariana Grande Thank You for letting me Jump on the Yellow Carpet with You.”
The post quickly drew condemnation from social media users. “You literally assaulted her and you’re posting it? bro you deserve to be in jail there is something severely wrong with you,” one commenter wrote. Another expressed deeper concern, stating, “Congratulations. You managed to turn what should’ve been a magical premiere into a global showcase of your complete inability to behave like a functioning adult… Rushing a woman — any woman, let alone someone who has survived unimaginable trauma — is not ‘a prank’. It’s not ‘a stunt’. It’s not ‘funny’. It’s pathetic, dangerous, and shows a total lack of respect for boundaries, safety, and basic human decency.”
A third user directly addressed Instagram, questioning why Wen is permitted to continue posting videos of what they described as “assaulting/harassing people,” calling it “distressing and disgusting and unlawful.”
Grande has not yet publicly commented on the incident. The New York City premiere of “Wicked: For Good” is scheduled for Monday, and the film is set to open wide in U.S. theaters on November 21.
This incident underscores the increasing challenges of ensuring the safety of public figures and the need for robust security measures at high-profile events. It also highlights the potential for online platforms to amplify harmful behavior and the importance of holding individuals accountable for their actions.
