Ariana Grande’s Singapore premiere descends into chaos as a man jumps the barricade and grabs her

Ariana Grande’s premiere for Wicked For Good in Singapore descended into sudden chaos on Thursday night when a man jumped over a red carpet barricade and grabbed the singer in full view of shocked fans, journalists and studio officials. The dramatic moment, captured on video and circulated widely online within minutes, showed Johnson Wen rushing at the star before security intervened and escorted him away. His actions stunned onlookers and brought the bustling event at Universal Studios Singapore to an abrupt and unsettling halt.

Grande had been greeting fans and posing for photographs alongside her co star Cynthia Erivo when Wen vaulted over the barrier without hesitation. The footage shows the Australian citizen sprinting directly towards Grande and pulling her into an embrace. Erivo reacted instantly, stepping between Grande and the intruder as stunned crew members shouted for help. Security officers removed Wen moments later, guiding Grande away from the area as guests attempted to understand what had just happened.

Authorities confirmed on Friday that Wen has been charged in a Singapore court with being a public nuisance. Local media reported that the twenty six year old intends to plead guilty. Under Singaporean law the offence carries a possible fine of up to two thousand Singapore dollars, the equivalent of just over one thousand one hundred pounds. Prosecutors have not suggested any additional charges at this stage.

Online reaction has been swift and fierce. Wen posts regularly on Instagram under the name pyjamamann and his account features videos of him invading stages at concerts by stars such as Katy Perry and the Weeknd. Many commenters expressed alarm that he had managed to reach Grande on a red carpet, accusing him of dangerous behaviour and warning that such incidents could jeopardise the safety of performers worldwide.

Grande and her cast mates have spent weeks travelling for what has become one of the most relentless publicity tours of the year. The singer appeared visibly shaken in the immediate aftermath of the incident but continued greeting fans once security confirmed the area was secure. The team behind Wicked For Good is preparing for its global release on twenty one November. The review embargo lifts in the coming days and early private reactions have claimed that both Grande and Erivo could be in contention for repeat Oscar nominations.

Incidents of red carpet invasions have become less common in recent years as studios and security teams have tightened protocols. The Grande episode has raised concern because the breach appeared to occur so quickly and so easily. Although Wen acted alone, the sight of him leaping the barricade has revived discussion about how to manage increasingly unpredictable fan behaviour in the age of social media, where viral stunts can be seen as a route to instant attention.

Past red carpet breaches still linger in the Hollywood memory. In 2007 a podcaster handcuffed herself to Hugh Grant at a premiere, leaving firefighters to separate them. Bradley Cooper faced an unwanted encounter in 2014 when a Ukrainian prankster thrust his head into the actor’s trousers on the red carpet, shortly after targeting Will Smith with an unsolicited kiss in Moscow. Kim Kardashian experienced her own security lapse in 2012 when a Peta activist threw flour at her during a perfume launch.

The Singapore incident has added fresh urgency to the broader conversation about celebrity safety at public events. Grande’s fans have flooded social media with messages urging tighter protection for the performers they admire. Commenters also praised Erivo for her swift reaction, describing her as a protective force who moved without hesitation to shield her co star.

As the investigation continues, Wen remains at the centre of intense scrutiny. Grande’s team has not commented publicly on whether they will pursue further action, though the court proceedings will continue in the coming days. For now the shocking breach stands as a reminder of how fast a glamorous premiere can shift into something far more alarming when a single individual chooses to ignore boundaries.