The man who ambushed Ariana Grande on the yellow carpet at the Wicked: For Good premiere in Singapore has been sentenced to jail after the alarming incident went viral.
Cynthia Erivo drew widespread praise for her instinctive response, stepping in to shield Grande and push the man away as he rushed past barricades during the November 13 premiere.
The individual, identified as 26-year-old Australian Johnson Wen, pleaded guilty to one count of being a public nuisance. According to The Straits Times, Wen received a nine-day jail sentence after leaping over a barrier as Grande, Erivo, and Michelle Yeoh walked arm-in-arm through a controlled fan area.
The court was told that Wen arrived in Singapore on November 11 on a social visit pass for a holiday and to attend the premiere.
As Grande greeted a fan to her right, Wen jumped the barricade and lunged toward her in what witnesses described as a cross between a hug and a headlock. Video from the event shows Erivo reacting instantly, pushing herself between Wen and Grande while security rushed in. Yeoh also turned toward Grande in shock as guards dragged Wen out of the area.
Photographs from The Straits Times and AFP captured the confrontation, including the moment Wen was restrained and the actresses’ distressed reactions.
Wen later identified himself on social media, posting footage of the encounter on TikTok with the caption: ‘Dear Ariana Grande Thank You for letting me Jump on the Yellow Carpet with You.’ He echoed the sentiment on Instagram, writing: ‘I am free after being arrested,’ before sharing the video again with the same caption. Thousands of comments quickly condemned his behavior.
Authorities confirmed Wen was charged with being a public nuisance in a Singapore court on Friday afternoon.
It was also revealed that this was not Wen’s first disruptive incident. His Instagram page includes clips of him jumping on stage at Katy Perry’s Sydney concert in June and another similar attempt at a Chainsmokers show last December.
Grande appeared visibly startled during the Singapore premiere but recovered quickly, continuing down the carpet with Erivo keeping a supportive arm around her. Video shared by @arisdandelions on X claimed Wen was “getting taken away for the second time btw. the SECOND time.”
The dramatic moment circulated widely on social platforms, with fans praising Erivo’s protective reaction.
@suayrez commented: ‘Security needs to hire Cynthia she was not playing at all.’
@thiscantbeyoufr added: ‘cynthia doesn’t play about ari cause why is she doing more work than the security team?!’
@TheeLieLamaa wrote: ‘The entitlement of “fans” is grotesque. I’m glad Cynthia Erivo and the security was there!’
@0xkhus added: ‘Real friendship is stepping in without hesitation. Cynthia understood the assignment 💚✨’
Despite the chaos, the premiere continued as planned, and Grande, Erivo, and Yeoh proceeded with their scheduled promotional appearances.
Source: Metro