SINGAPORE – “We don’t claim him.”
It is the cry heard around Singapore in the past few days.
United by shock, indignation and anger, local netizens have for once banded together in a rare show of patriotism – to decry Australian serial intruder Johnson Wen as not one of our own.
The 26-year-old who charged at American actress and pop star Ariana Grande,
At the yellow carpet event attended by ticket-holding fans, influencers and the media, he jumped the barricade at Universal Studios Singapore in Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) twice. In his second attempt, he rushed towards the petite 1.57m-tall singer and flung his arm roughly around her.
Grande’s co-star, British actress-singer Cythia Erivo, swiftly forced her body in between them to protect Grande, before security tossed him back over the barricade.
Wen, who had posted smug videos of himself being set free after the incident, was charged in court on Nov 14. He pleaded guilty on Nov 17 and was sentenced to nine days’ jail.
Event crasher Johnson Wen (in white) committed the offence at Universal Studios Singapore on Nov 13.
ST PHOTO: KELVIN CHNG
But the damage has already been done.
His actions marred what was meant to be a momentous night – not just for Wicked fans, but all of Singapore. The Republic was one of just five stops (alongside Brazil, Paris, London and New York) on the international promo tour, and the only one in Asia. Thanks to the global fandom and the power of the Hollywood marketing machine, all eyes, even beyond the region, were on us.
The premiere was supposed to be a rare opportunity for Singapore to shine on a global stage outside our usual strengths of tech and finance.
For once, we had been chosen as a platform for Hollywood entertainment. But the attack eclipsed any grand showing of the country, with every headline from the event highlighting Wen’s attention-seeking actions.
If even the global gossip TikTok accounts are talking about it, you know it’s bad.
Local TikTokers voiced their displeasure online: Singapore may not be particularly known for many things, but the one thing we are known for is safety. And what of that reputation now? One selfish person single-handedly “threw our face” – and he was not even Singaporean.
Many also felt the attack scared Grande off interacting with fans during the yellow carpet walk. While she had gamely posed for wefies – even holding the camera to snap the picture herself – and signed autographs at the free fan event held at RWS mall Weave a few hours before, she brisk-walked down the yellow carpet past the crowds during the premiere.
Hurt and anger swelled online, as those inside USS – who paid $93 (before booking fees) to enter – felt they had been robbed of the chance to interact with their idol.
As someone who was reporting from inside the premiere, I had noticed dynamic duo Grande and Erivo were a little off when it was their turn in the media pen. Throughout their two-year-long press tour, their rapport onscreen has translated into equally electrifying chemistry in their media interviews and on red carpets, which fans lapped up.
This time, they were distant, a little uncertain. I had chalked it down to it being near the end of a long day, the humidity, jet lag even. I was unaware then that Grande had been grabbed just minutes earlier.
When asked what was the moment they realised they had found a lifelong sister in each other, Erivo, 38, had turned away from the mic and mumbled something with a smirk. I brushed it off as fatigue-induced cattiness; on closer listening afterwards, she had said: “I want to say right now.”
The pair soldiered on and answered questions politely with a smile – but rewatching the interview, you could see Grande’s hands were trembling.
And then there are the legions of Ariana Grande fans, this writer included, who now feel Singapore’s chances at being included in her 2026 Eternal Sunshine global tour are shot. Dates for her sold-out fifth concert tour that kicks off in June 2026 had been released for only North America and London thus far, with many fans in Asia holding out for the possibility of her adding an Asian leg.
She last performed here in 2017 at the Formula One Singapore Grand Prix at the Padang Stage. The Eternal Sunshine Tour is her first concert tour since 2019.
While some may brush off the incidient as making a mountain out of a molehill, Arianators (the name of her fandom) will know that its effects and consequences can run deep. After all, this is not her first brush with a dangerous “fan”.
Wicked stars, American actress and pop star Ariana Grande and British actress Cynthia Erivo, arriving at the premiere of Wicked: For Good in Universal Studios Singapore on Nov 13.
ST PHOTO: KELVIN CHNG
Grande’s May 22 2017 Manchester Arena concert in Manchester, England was the target of a terrorist suicide bombing that killed 22 people and injured over 1,000. Classified as the deadliest act of terrorism and the first suicide bombing in Britain since the July 2005 London bombings, the attack left Grande with post-traumatic stress disorder.
Wen’s actions have also reignited discussion on fan behaviour and the public safety of celebrities. He is a serial intruder that has disrupted many celebrity events, including Katy Perry’s Sydney concert in June and The Weeknd’s Melbourne concert in October 2024 – jumping onstage to grab and harass the singers.
Harmless at first, sure, but with every possibility of turning into something more sinister.
It brings to mind the tragic case of American singer-songwriter Christina Grimmie, who died at 22.
She was shot dead in 2016 while signing autographs at a meet-and-greet with her fans following a concert performance in Orlando, Florida. Her murderer was 27-year-old Kevin James Loibl, who waited in line to meet her. When it was his turn, she opened her arms to hug him – and he pulled out a Glock pistol and shot her three times.
Wen has since been dealt with by the law,
no one can fault Grande, who has been outspoken about her anxiety, if she were to hesitate to hold another concert in Singapore in the near future. Returning to the scene of the crime could re-traumatise anyone.
Stars Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo with the rest of the cast of Wicked: For Good at a public fan meet at Weave in Resorts World Sentosa, a few hours before walking the yellow carpet at the Singapore premire.
ST PHOTO: KELVIN CHNG
The penalty meted out to Wen could be seen as upholding Singapore’s reputation as a city of law and order. It will take time (and a few more news cycles) to shed the negative press and rebuild an image that gives celebrities and international viewers confidence in us again.
In her 2024 chart-topping single We Can’t Be Friends (Wait For Your Love), Grande sings about the end of a relationship – which some fans have also compared to her rollercoaster relationship with her fans and the press – and that she will “wait until you like me again”.
This time, Ari, we will wait for your love.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.straitstimes.com ’
