Johnson Wen, an Australian man, has been sentenced to nine days in jail after grabbing actress Ariana Grande at the Wicked: For Good premiere in Singapore. The incident occurred on Thursday, November 13th when Wen jumped over a barricade at Universal Studios Singapore and rushed at Grande on the red carpet. Co-star Cynthia Erivo intervened to protect Grande, and security personnel swiftly removed Wen from the scene.

Wen, known for his disruptive behavior at public events, has previously stormed stages at concerts featuring artists like Katy Perry and The Chainsmokers. His actions have sparked outrage, with many calling for him to face legal consequences. According to BBC News, Wen was charged with being a public nuisance and pleaded guilty in a Singapore court.

Erivo recently broke her silence at a Screen Actors Guild screening of Wicked: For Good and told Entertainment Weekly, "What's even more wonderful is the fact that there are other people who have seen themselves in this movie, in that character, and also now see themselves and feel safe. That, for me, is the pinnacle of what I could ever wish for from any piece of work I have ever done. And I am so glad that in order to do it, I had to look into the eyes of this person beside me." She added, "And we have come through some shit. We have come through some stuff in our lives, in our daily workings," she continued. "I mean, f***, even this last week. Let's be honest, for f***'s sakes, we've had to really deal with some stuff, and this movie has allowed us to really grow as people, as friends, as sisters, as artists, as actresses."

The incident has drawn attention due to Grande's past experiences with trauma, including the 2017 Manchester concert bombing. Fans have expressed concern that Wen's actions could be re-traumatizing for the singer. Despite the commotion, Grande has not publicly commented on the event. The Wicked: For Good premiere, which also featured stars Michelle Yeoh and Jeff Goldblum, proceeded as planned, and the movie is set for release on November 21st.

Jodi Stewart