🔗 Share this article

Passionate fans of Ariana Grande are urging that a man who leaped a barrier and seized the performer during yesterday's Wicked: For Good premiere be arrested or expelled from Singapore.

A circulating clip reveals the person identified as Johnson Wen pushing past camera operators and lunging at Grande while the cast walked down a event pathway accompanied by onlookers.

Cast member Cynthia Erivo promptly guided the surprised actress away from Mr Wen, who was seen being escorted out of the event by event staff.

Mr Wen stated on Instagram late on Thursday that he was "free after being arrested", though legal records showed that he was due to be present on the next day. It is unknown if he was formally accused.

Pattern of Disruptions

This is not an isolated incident for Mr Wen, who calls himself a "Notorious Troublemaker", has crashed a performance. His Instagram profile features recordings of him disrupting other star-studded functions, including jumping on stage at the artist's Sydney show in recently and in a similar way during The Chainsmokers event in the area last December.

"Steps should be implemented taken against him as this is evidently a punishable act," stated an Instagram follower, in a message to a video Mr Wen posted of his act.

"You've done this repeatedly... how are you not behind bars?" another Instagram user wrote.

Supporters Voice Worry Over the Star's Past Trauma

Many supporters blamed Mr Wen for "causing further distress" Grande, who had discussed dealing with PTSD after a suicide bomb attack at the conclusion of her 2017 concert in Manchester, killing 22 people and injuring numerous individuals.

"After everything she's faced... including the Manchester attack, you considered it entertaining to rush the barrier?" said one more message on Instagram.

Several supporters also questioned event staff at the Thursday event for not being adequately prepared; while different individuals requested social media platforms to ban Mr Wen's content.

Aftermath and Premiere Information

In footage shared widely, Grande seemed shocked when she was touched by the individual. Her fellow actors Michelle Yeoh and Erivo can be spotted reassuring her while Mr Wen was led out by guards.

Grande has not issued a statement on the incident, and the remaining proceedings continued without further issues.

Numerous of attendees had assembled in a crowd of colorful attire at the Wicked: For Good Asia-Pacific debut in a Singapore shopping center, including some who had waited for as long as eight hours before it began.

The motion picture, to be premiered on the 21st of November, is the sequel of a two-film adaptation of the popular theatrical production Wicked, which focuses on the surprising friendship between two contrasting witches.

The show itself is a spin-off of the 1900 story The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.

Grande, who acts as the character Glinda Glinda, was adorned in a light pink sequin dress at the premiere while Erivo, who acts as the wicked witch, wore a sleek black dress decorated with roses.

They were accompanied by fellow actor Jeff Goldblum.

The first movie, Wicked, was the top-earning movie of last year in the UK, and received 10 Academy Award nods, earning a pair for excellent wardrobe and set decoration.