Australian Man Deported After Rushing Ariana Grande at Singapore Premiere

An Australian man named Johnson Wen was deported from Singapore after serving a nine-day jail term for rushing at pop star Ariana Grande during the Asian premiere of the musical "Wicked: For Good." The incident occurred on November 13, 2025, at the premiere event in Singapore. Wen jumped over a barricade and put his arm around Ariana Grande, surprising the singer and the audience.

Security quickly intervened, with Grande’s co-star Cynthia Erivo rushing to protect her, and Wen was removed from the area by guards. Video clips of the moment went viral online, showing Wen smiling and waving to the crowd after the brief encounter.

Wen was arrested hours later and charged with causing a public nuisance. Singapore’s District Judge Christopher Goh described Wen’s behavior as "attention seeking" and noted that Wen had disrupted other events in the past, suggesting a pattern of similar actions. Despite the seriousness of the charge, Wen received a jail sentence of nine days, which is less than the maximum penalty of three months in jail or a fine of $1,500.

After completing his jail term, Johnson Wen was deported back to Australia. The Singapore immigration authorities also stated that Wen has been banned from re-entering Singapore.

Wen expressed regret in court, admitting that his actions were wrong and promising not to repeat such behavior. Despite the disturbance, the premiere of "Wicked: For Good" continued as planned, with the cast gathering around Ariana Grande before proceeding down the yellow carpet.

Ariana Grande, who began her career as a teen on Broadway, has grown into a hugely successful pop singer, making the incident at the premiere an unexpected and unwanted distraction.

This case highlights the strict laws in Singapore against public disturbances and the country’s swift actions to ensure the safety and respect of performers and public events.