Trendpills
An Australian man, Johnson Wen, has been sentenced to nine days in jail in Singapore after grabbing actress and singer Ariana Grande during the Asia-Pacific premiere of "Wicked: For Good." The 26-year-old pleaded guilty to a charge of public nuisance for the incident, which occurred at Universal Studios Singapore on November 14.
The event unfolded as Grande and her co-stars walked the event's yellow carpet. Viral video footage showed Wen jumping over a security barricade, moving past members of the media, and lunging toward Grande. He briefly made contact and grabbed her arm before her co-star, Cynthia Erivo, quickly intervened to push him away. Security personnel immediately apprehended Wen at the scene.
During the court hearing on Monday, November 17, Wen expressed remorse for his actions. His lawyer stated that Wen was "star-struck" and his intention was merely to get a photograph with the star. The court proceeded with sentencing after his guilty plea. Under Singaporean law, the offense of public nuisance can carry a sentence of up to three months in prison, a fine, or both. Wen’s nine-day jail sentence was backdated to the date of his arrest.
Following the highly-publicized security breach, Grande addressed the incident in a social media post, thanking her security team and praising Erivo's quick reaction. In a statement reported by multiple outlets, Grande noted that while the man’s intentions may not have been malicious, such actions create a dangerous environment. The swift legal resolution in Singapore highlights the country's strict enforcement of public order regulations.
