Man Jailed for Grabbing Ariana Grande at Premiere

A court in Singapore has issued a nine-day jail sentence to an Australian man following an incident involving Ariana Grande at a movie premiere.

Johnson Wen, age 26, admitted guilt on Thursday to causing a public disturbance. He jumped a fence and forcibly wrapped his arm around the pop star during the Asian premiere of “Wicked: For Good.” Video clips of the encounter spread widely online, showing Grande looking shocked while her co-star, Cynthia Erivo, and security rushed to assist her.

Wen, who has made a name for himself as a celebrity prankster, later shared clips from the incident on his social media, boasting about his close encounter with Grande.

Police apprehended Wen the day after the event. He appeared in court on Monday without a lawyer and pleaded guilty. “I don’t want to do it again,” he told the judge.

Wen’s history includes various incidents of interruption at celebrity events, as noted by reports. Many in Singapore have called for his deportation. His social media features other instances of him invading performers’ spaces, such as during concerts with Katy Perry and The Weeknd, along with multiple sporting events.

Prosecutors sought a one-week prison term for Wen, describing him as a “serial intruder” who has sought notoriety through his actions online.

In Singapore, public nuisance laws could have subjected Wen to a maximum of three months in prison and fines. Grande has yet to publicly address the incident or her encounter with Wen.