A man who ambushed pop star Ariana Grande at the Singapore premiere of Wicked: For Good has been sentenced to nine days in jail following his shocking stunt.
26-year-old Johnson Wen was admitted for causing a public nuisance after he crossed a barrier at the event and threw his arm around the singer. The court heard that the incident, which left Grande visibly shaken, warranted immediate legal action.
Grande had been meeting fans along the film’s yellow carpet when Wen suddenly charged at her without warning. Cynthia Erivo, who plays Elphaba opposite Grande’s Glinda, acted swiftly, shoving the intruder away as the singer froze in surprise.
Officials reported Wen had flown into Singapore on 11 November on a temporary social visit pass, travelling from Australia specifically to attend the screening.
Known online as Pyjama Man, Wen regularly posts footage of himself approaching celebrities at premieres and live events. Following his arrest, he posted on Instagram, saying he was “free after being arrested.”
Celebrity Pitch Invader Causes Chaos
Footage from the Wicked yellow carpet shows Erivo shouting “Get off!” as she stepped between Wen and Grande. Fans nearby called out, “Ariana, are you ok? Are you fine?” before Grande was escorted along the carpet, still visibly rattled, while Erivo held her hand to protect her.
Wen has denied that addiction or mental health issues drove his behaviour. Instead, he said he enjoys the thrill of approaching celebrities and claims he can “stop whenever he wants.”
From Katy Perry to The Weeknd – Wen’s Antics
This wasn’t Wen’s first high-profile intrusion. Before this time, he climbed onto the stage during a Katy Perry musicale in Sydney, startling the songster.
He has also targeted The Weeknd and other celebrities in analogous celebrity- stalking incidents, earning a character as a notorious pitch raider.
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In a 2024 interview, Wen boldly stated, “I’m literally the best pitch invader/streaker. I’ll probably keep doing it.” He has also shared clips of his antics on social media, once captioning a post: “Dear Ariana Grande, thank you for letting me jump on the yellow carpet with you.”
His numbers have preliminarily redounded in forfeitures of over to$ 10,000, which his family has frequently helped him pay. Despite public review and legal consequences, he has openly admitted he has no plans to stop.
“I’ve had a few people come up to me and were like: ‘You should stop doing that. What about your fines and your career in the future?’ I was like: ‘No way!’ I’m literally the best pitch invader/streaker. I’ll probably keep doing it, but I might take a break,” he said.
Reflecting on another stunt where he forced himself onto The Weeknd’s stage, Wen added: “I know it’s bad, but I didn’t care about the consequences. I was going to do it either way, even though it was really bad to do it.”
Public and Social Media React
The court’s ruling and Wen’s continued notoriety have sparked discussion online about celebrity safety at public events.
suckers have raised concerns about how stars are defended at premieres, musicales, and public appearances, particularly when faced with reprise malefactors like Wen.
Court Verdict and Safety Concerns
Legal experts have emphasised that the judgment serves as a warning to others who might attempt analogous numbers.
While Wen may see his conduct as thrilling or entertaining, the consequences punctuate the significance of maintaining boundaries and security at high-profile events.
With celebrities regularly attending premieres, musicales, and addict events, organisers may now face increased pressure to bolster security measures, ensuring that suckers can enjoy events safely without threat to the stars themselves.
