Followers Demand Detainment of Man Who Touched Ariana Grande

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

Loyal fans of the actress are urging that a individual who leaped a fence and touched the actress during Thursday's Wicked: For Good premiere be detained or deported from Singapore.

A circulating footage reveals the person identified as Johnson Wen bypassing camera operators and charging at Grande while the cast made its way down a promenade accompanied by onlookers.

Fellow actress Cynthia Erivo promptly wrested the surprised star away from Mr Wen, who was seen being removed of the gathering by guards.

Mr Wen shared on Instagram recently that he was "released after being detained", though official papers indicated that he was set to appear on Friday morning. It is not clear if he was charged.

History of Incidents

This is not an isolated incident for Mr Wen, who labels himself a "Controversial Figure", has crashed a celebrity gathering. His Instagram feed includes recordings of him interrupting other star-studded functions, including jumping on stage at the pop singer's Sydney show in June this year and in a like fashion during The Chainsmokers performance in the city last year.

"Steps should be implemented taken against him as this is evidently a criminal offence," stated an Instagram user, in a response to a video Mr Wen posted of his actions.

"This appears to be a habit... why are you not imprisoned?" one Instagram user remarked.

Supporters Express Concern Over Ariana's Safety

Several fans accused Mr Wen for "triggering past anxiety" Grande, who had spoken of dealing with trauma-related anxiety after a suicide bomb attack at the finale of her May 2017 show in Manchester, killing 22 people and injuring hundreds.

"After everything she's faced... including the Manchester attack, you considered it entertaining to rush the barrier?" commented another response on Instagram.

A number of fans also criticised event staff at the Thursday event for not being adequately prepared; while different individuals requested digital services to ban Mr Wen's content.

Response and Event Details

In clips circulating online, Grande seemed startled when she was approached by the individual. Her fellow actors Michelle Yeoh and Erivo can be seen comforting her while Mr Wen was escorted away by guards.

Grande has remained silent on the event, and the rest of the event continued without further issues.

Fans at Wicked premiere
Hundreds of Singapore attendees had lined up to see the cast of Wicked

Many of attendees had assembled in a crowd of emerald and rose at the Wicked: For Good Asia-Pacific debut in a Singapore venue, including some who had stood in line for as long as eight hours before it started.

The movie, to be premiered on the 21st of November, is the follow-up of a two-film version of the popular Broadway and West End production Wicked, which focuses on the unlikely bond between two very different witches.

The show itself is a adaptation of the classic book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.

Grande, who portrays the character Glinda Glinda, was decked out in a light pink sequin dress at the gathering while Erivo, who plays the Elphaba, wore a sleek black dress decorated with roses.

They were joined by cast member Jeff Goldblum.

The initial film, Wicked, was the top-earning motion picture of 2024 in the UK, and scored a dozen Academy Award nods, earning several for outstanding attire and production design.

Patrick Baker
Patrick Baker

A seasoned gaming analyst with over a decade of experience in casino strategy and slot machine mechanics.