Audio By Carbonatix
A court in Singapore has sentenced an Australian man to nine days in prison for grabbing Hollywood star Ariana Grande at a movie premiere.
Johnson Wen, 26, was found guilty of being a public nuisance over the high-profile incident last Thursday at the Asia premiere for Wicked: For Good.
Videos posted on social media show Wen jumping the barriers, charging at a visibly shocked Grande and grabbing her shoulders while jumping up and down.
The incident sparked outrage in Singapore, where many called for the arrest and deportation of Wen, who has a history of disrupting concerts and celebrity events.
Several accused him of "re-traumatising" Grande. The pop star turned actress has spoken of experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder after a suicide bomb attack at her May 2017 concert in Manchester, killing 22 people and injuring hundreds.
In Wen's trial on Monday, the court heard he had attempted to intrude on the movie premiere twice, Singaporean media reports.
Moments after he grabbed Grande, her co-star Cynthia Erivo forcibly pried him off and security staff escorted him out.
He then made a second attempt to jump the barricades. Security staff stopped him and this time pinned him down.
Wen later posted videos of the incident on his social media accounts thanking Grande and stating that he was "free".
Police in Singapore arrested him the next day and charged him with public nuisance. Wen pleaded guilty.
Prosecutors sought a week's jail for Wen, arguing that he was a "serial intruder" who publicised his behaviour to gain popularity online.
Wen has posted videos of himself disrupting concerts by Katy Perry and The Weeknd, and invading the pitch at various sporting events. Australian media have reported he is banned from some stadiums and has incurred large fines.
Wen, who was not represented in the Singapore court, told the judge in mitigation that he would "not do it again".
Under Singapore's laws against public nuisance, Wen could have been jailed for up to three months, fined up to S$2,000 (£1,167; $1,537), or both.
Grande has not commented on the case, while continuing to appear in public at events in Los Angeles over the weekend.
But two days after the incident, Erivo appeared to allude to it when she spoke about her relationship with Grande while making the movie, saying: "We have come through some stuff in our lives, our daily workings... even this last week, let's be honest."
Latest Stories
-
The transfers to watch before window closes
6 minutes -
Nana Kwadwo Osei Bonsu I installed as Odikro of Tepa Ankaase in Ashanti Region
16 minutes -
FDA, National Security arrest suspect over sale of cigarette-shaped sweets
18 minutes -
Sammy Awuku challenges GMA over MV Sankofa’s seaworthiness and clearance
20 minutes -
ECG can move from losses to profit with prudent management, stable economy – SIGA DG
23 minutes -
ECG, Graphic and three other SOEs recorded losses every year from 2021 to 2025 – SIGA
24 minutes -
COCOBOD revenue surges to GH¢48.6bn, returns to GH¢5.1bn profit in 2025
26 minutes -
The jury’s options in Lindsay Clancy’s murder trial
26 minutes -
Venus Williams loses 15th match in row in 2am finish
26 minutes -
NSA reopens portal for defaulters, private candidates ahead of September 4 deadline
26 minutes -
Akosua’s ‘Fante Deliciousness’ wins in Big Chef Season 5
27 minutes -
My chances are good – Paul Afoko confident of clearing NPP vetting in National Chairman race
27 minutes -
Fairtrade Africa presses cocoa industry to close living income gap
29 minutes -
Ghana Airports Company’s income rises to GH¢2.48bn as assets exceed GH¢10bn
30 minutes -
aYo Ghana is Mobile Insurance Leader of the year
36 minutes