3 weeks ago
7
The Wicked: For Good premiere in Singapore has taken a dramatic turn after serial pest Johnson Wen evaded security and ambushed Ariana Grande on the yellow carpet.
Footage shared to social media by fans in attendance and by Wen – who goes by Pyjama Man on social media, where he posts video of his pitch and stage invasions – shows the infamous Australian prankster leaping over the barricade, run past security guards, and forcefully put his arm around a visibly shocked Grande, jostling her in the process.
Cynthia Erivo leaps into action as public nuisance Johnson Wen grabs Ariana Grande.Credit: Instagram
Grande’s co-star Cynthia Erivo immediately leaps into action, pushing Wen away from Grande, while actress Michelle Yeoh pulled Grande into her arms.
Security guards are then seen grabbing Wen and holding him to the ground, as Grande clutches her chest and hugs Yeoh. Erivo then turns to Grande and consoles her with a hug, as a stunned Grande strokes Erivo’s arm.
Loading
After the incident on Thursday evening (local time), Wen shared footage to his Instagram page, writing alongside it: “Dear Ariana Grande Thank You for letting me Jump on the Yellow Carpet with You.”
He also shared a video to his Instagram Story, seemingly from the airport, which shows him pointing to the message on his shirt – it says “Jesus” – alongside the text: “I’m Free after being Arrested.”
Grande, Erivo, Yeoh and Universal Pictures have not publicly addressed the incident.
Wen made headlines in June, when he rushed on stage and put an arm around Katy Perry, who was performing at Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena as part of her Lifetimes tour.
Security escorted Wen away from Perry, who was visibly shaken and moved away from him while telling the audience: “There’s never going to be another show like this, so just enjoy it!”
NSW Police later confirmed in a statement to this masthead that a man was arrested, taken to Auburn police station and charged with two offences: entering enclosed land and obstructing a person in performance of work or duties.
In an interview with 9News, Wen said he stormed Perry’s stage for fun and claimed he’s not a threat.
“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 said after the incident, which saw him banned from the Olympic Park precinct for six months.
The unemployed influencer told 9News he had racked up about $20,000 in fines for his various stunts and lived in a backpacker hostel in the inner Sydney suburb of Haymarket.
Previous stage invasions include The Weeknd’s (Abel Tesfaye) concert at Marvel Stadium in 2024. That same year, Wen delayed the men’s 100-metres final at the Paris Olympics when he invaded the track.
He also stormed the pitch during the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2023, and approached cricketer Virat Kohli while storming the pitch at the men’s ICC Cricket World Cup final in India in 2023.
Grande, meanwhile, has been vocal about her struggles with post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety after 22 people died in a bombing at her 2017 Manchester concert.
“I’ve always had anxiety,” the singer and actor told British Vogue in 2018. “I’ve never really spoken about it because I thought everyone had it, but when I got home from tour [September 2017], it was the most severe I think it’s ever been.”
Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
Most Viewed in Culture
Loading
