Man Who Grabbed Ariana Grande at Singapore Premiere Sentenced to Jail

Summary:

• Ariana Grande was grabbed by Australian Johnson Wen at a film premiere in Singapore. Security intervened.

• Wen, known as “Pyjama Man,” was jailed for nine days for being a “public nuisance.” He has a history of event crashing.

• The incident highlights safety concerns at high-profile events and the dangers of seeking social media attention. #arianagrande #johnsonwen

On Nov. 13 at the premiere of the film Wicked: For Good held at Universal Studios Singapore, Ariana Grande was walking the yellow carpet in Singapore when a man jumped a crowd barrier and grabbed her around the shoulders. 

The man was 26-year-old Australian Johnson Wen, who went by the social-media handle “Pyjama Man”. 

Australian serial red carpet prankster Johnson Wen, who grabbed Ariana Grande at the yellow carpet premiere of Wicked: For Good, has been jailed in Singapore. #johnsonwen #pyjamaman #arianagrande #wickedforgood #singapore pic.twitter.com/7GNxoO1Tr1

— 7NEWS Australia (@7NewsAustralia) November 18, 2025

As video footage circulated, the moment shows Wen vaulting over a barricade, charging toward Grande, then placing an arm around her before security intervened. At that moment, Erivo, who was standing beside Grande, stepped in and physically placed herself between Wen and Grande, pushing Wen away and allowing Grande to safely exit. 

Following his removal by security, Wen posted on social media a clip of the incident, captioning it “Dear Ariana Grande, Thank You for letting me jump on the Yellow Carpet with you.” 

Wen was charged in Singapore on Nov. 14 with being a “public nuisance” under Section 290(b) of the Singapore Penal Code after the incident at the premiere. 

On Nov. 17 he was sentenced to nine days in jail. The judge described his actions as “attention-seeking, thinking only of yourself and not the safety of others” and noted a pattern of prior intrusions. 

He’s not a fan.
He’s not a “prankster” as he brands himself.
Johnson Wen is a menace. A no-talent narcissist who thinks nothing of endangering others for attention. pic.twitter.com/O5aFXrSuAi

— Danny Carrington (@DannyCarringto5) November 13, 2025

Wen is reported to have a history of event crashing and stage invasions. He has targeted concerts and sporting events, including intrusions at a Katy Perry concert and a The Weeknd show in Australia. 

In Singapore, the court said his past acts and the lack of prior consequences suggested he believed he would get away with it again. The judge said Singapore needed to “send a signal to like-minded individuals… that we will not condone any act that potentially undermines the reputation of Singapore as a safe country.”

For Ariana Grande the incident is more than a public disruption. Having publicly spoken about trauma and anxiety linked to the 2017 Manchester bombing at her concert, being approached so suddenly and physically is deeply unsettling. 

The story also reflects how the internet’s clout economy is incentivising increasingly risky behaviour. Wen’s pattern suggests he pursued the moment for views rather than any fan-driven affection, which turns the narrative from “fan encounter” to “safety breach”. The sentencing sends a message that even high-profile event settings are not playgrounds for social-media stunts if they cross legal lines.

Grande’s team has not issued a detailed statement about the incident, but Grande herself reposted from Singapore: “thank you, Singapore. we love you.”

The film will continue its global promotion tour, and this incident may lead to tighter security for future premieres, especially in high-fan zones. Singapore authorities and event organizers will likely conduct fresh risk assessments for red-carpet logistics.