Man Who Ambushed Ariana Grande At Wicked Premiere Identified As Australian Johnson Wen
When the Wicked: For Good premiere rolled into Singapore yesterday, fans were there for a bit of sparkle and song — not security drama. But things took a worrying turn when a man jumped a barricade and grabbed Ariana Grande mid-carpet, prompting co-star Cynthia Erivo to literally leap into action.
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Footage from the scene shows Grande with Erivo and Wicked co-stars Michelle Yeoh and Jeff Goldblum when a man suddenly rushed her, wrapping his arm around the singer as he jumped up and down. Erivo immediately pulled him off, shielding Grande until security finally caught up. The duo were later seen comforting each other as they moved along the yellow carpet.
The man responsible — identified as Australian, Johnson Wen — later bragged about the incident on Instagram, writing, “I am free after being arrested”, in a Story that’s since gone viral. If his name sounds familiar, that’s because this isn’t his first time causing chaos around celebrities.
According to a June 2025 report by 9News, Wen was arrested in Sydney earlier this year after storming the stage during a Katy Perry concert.
The outlet also reported that he’d previously been banned from Accor Stadium after interrupting The Weeknd’s show in 2024 and had racked up around $20,000 in fines. He said that the Perry stunt would be his last brush with the law.
“I’m planning to quit forever because you get in way too much trouble for it, especially me, because I’ve done it so many times,” he told 9News at the time.
But clearly, that promise didn’t stick.
Following his latest outburst in Singapore, Wen again took to Instagram to proclaim his freedom — a post that’s drawn heavy backlash online.
One user commented, “You literally assaulted her. This isn’t a flex, it’s a crime.” Another wrote, “This is sick… Seek help.”
Grande, who’s been open about her struggles with anxiety and PTSD after the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing that killed 22 people, has not publicly addressed the incident. In a 2018 interview with British Vogue, she said, “I’ve always had anxiety… it was the most severe I think it’s ever been” after returning home from tour.
Fans have since praised Erivo for her fast reflexes at the Singapore premiere — though many have also questioned why security guards were so slow to intervene. “She shouldn’t have to expose herself to getting attacked when there are actual bodyguards that are paid to protect them,” one fan wrote on social media.
Many fans have tagged Singapore’s police force in the comments of Wen’s Instagram video of the event, urging them to re-arrest him.
The premiere, hosted at Resorts World Sentosa, marked Wicked’s only Asian stop on its promotional tour before it wraps up in New York. Neither Erivo or Grande have commented on the ambush at the time of writing.
Lead image: Instagram
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