A man who jumped over a barricade and grabbed actress Ariana Grande at a Wicked: For Good premiere in Singapore has been charged with being a public nuisance.
A now viral video shows the Australian man, Johnson Wen, pushing past photographers and charging at Grande while the cast made its way down a yellow carpet surrounded by fans. Co-star Cynthia Erivo could be seen wrestling the stunned actress away from Mr. Wen.
The 26-year-old posted on Instagram that he was free after being arrested; however, he was charged in a Singapore court with public nuisance the following afternoon, sparking outrage.
Local reports indicate that Mr. Wen, who has not obtained legal representation, plans to plead guilty. This incident is not his first brush with disruption, as he has a history of invading celebrity events, including previous concerts by Katy Perry and The Chainsmokers.
If convicted, he faces a fine of up to S$2000 (approximately $1540 USD). Many fans have called for his arrest and deportation, condemning his actions as a criminal offense and expressing concern for Grande's past traumas related to safety during public events.
The premiere was attended by hundreds of fans, some of whom had waited for up to eight hours. Grande and her castmates, including Jeff Goldblum, were present for the event, which is promoting the upcoming release of 'Wicked: For Good' on November 21.
Grande has yet to comment on the incident, though security measures at the event is under scrutiny.
