Ariana Grande Ambusher Deported From Singapore, Barred From Re-Entry After ‘Wicked’ Premiere Incident
Ariana Grande’s “Wicked” premiere in Singapore was disrupted by a security breach last month, culminating in the deportation of the individual responsible and a permanent ban from the country. The 26-year-old Australian national, Johnson Wen, was deported on November 23, 2025, following a short jail sentence for ambushing the Grammy-winning singer on the event’s yellow carpet.
The incident sparked widespread concern after Wen rushed the stage, tackling Grande in what witnesses described as a combination of a hug and a headlock. Cynthia Erivo, Grande’s co-star in “Wicked,” immediately intervened, going viral for her protective response as she pushed Wen away from the singer. “She was not playing at all,” one social media user commented, praising Erivo’s swift action.
Wen was later identified and pleaded guilty to one charge of being a public nuisance. According to a statement from an ICA spokesperson, Wen has been barred from re-entering Singapore.
The court heard that Wen arrived in Singapore on November 11 on a social visit pass specifically to attend the premiere. District Judge Christopher Goh, in sentencing Wen to nine days in jail, described his actions as “attention-seeking” and emphasized that he wrongly assumed he would face no repercussions.
The incident unfolded as Grande, Erivo, and Michelle Yeoh were walking through a controlled fan area, flanked by barricades. A fan video circulating on X (formerly Twitter) showed the moment Wen leapt over the barrier and ran toward Grande, prompting a swift response from Erivo and security personnel. Fans at the scene were visibly alarmed, with one user, @arisdandelions, claiming on X that security was forced to remove the man a second time.
Grande was reportedly shaken by the ordeal, breathing frantically as she processed the event. Yeoh also reacted with immediate concern, turning toward Grande as security intervened.
Following his arrest, Wen seemingly documented the incident on social media, posting a TikTok video with the caption: “Dear Ariana Grande Thank You for letting me Jump on the Yellow Carpet with You.” He also shared a post to his Instagram Story confirming his arrest, identifying himself as “Pyjama Man” and receiving a wave of condemnation for his actions. A video of the incident posted to his Instagram account, captioned with a message of gratitude to Grande, quickly garnered thousands of negative comments.
This incident is not isolated. Wen has a history of similar stunts, including jumping on stage at Katy Perry’s Sydney concert in June and at a The Chainsmokers concert last December.
Despite the disruption, the premiere continued as planned, and the cast maintained their promotional schedule for the highly anticipated film. Erivo and Grande were later photographed continuing down the carpet, with Erivo providing a steadying arm around a visibly shaken Grande. Their close bond throughout the “Wicked” press tour has been widely celebrated by fans.
The incident underscores the increasing challenges of ensuring celebrity safety at public events and highlights the dedication of individuals like Cynthia Erivo to protecting their colleagues.
Here is a link to a fan video of the incident on X: https://twitter.com/tacotrvck_vb
Here is a link to a TikTok video posted by Johnson Wen: [URL to TikTok video]
Here is a link to a video of the incident on TikTok: [URL to TikTok video]
A version of this article was first published on November 17, 2025.
