🔗 Share this article

Passionate followers of Ariana Grande are urging that a man who jumped a barricade and grabbed the celebrity during Thursday's Wicked: For Good premiere be arrested or removed from Singapore.

A circulating video reveals the person identified as Johnson Wen shoving aside camera operators and lunging at Grande while the cast walked down a yellow carpet flanked by fans.

Cast member Cynthia Erivo quickly wrested the stunned actress away from Mr Wen, who was observed being led away of the premiere by security officers.

Mr Wen posted on Instagram Thursday evening that he was "let go after being arrested", though official papers showed that he was due to appear on the next day. It is not clear if he was faced legal action.

History of Incidents

This is not the first time for Mr Wen, who labels himself a "Troll Most Hated", has invaded a celebrity gathering. His Instagram account contains recordings of him disrupting other star-studded functions, including rushing the platform at Katy Perry's Sydney performance in June this year and in a like fashion during The Chainsmokers event in the city last winter.

"Measures must be taken enforced against him as this is clearly a criminal offence," wrote an Instagram user, in a reply to a video Mr Wen uploaded of his actions.

"This appears to be a habit... why are you not imprisoned?" another Instagram user remarked.

Followers Express Concern Over Ariana's Safety

Many fans accused Mr Wen for "re-traumatising" Grande, who had revealed dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder after a devastating incident at the finale of her 2017 concert in Manchester, killing 22 people and harming numerous individuals.

"The star has endured numerous terrifying experiences... including the Manchester tragedy, and you believed breaching security was amusing?" said one more message on Instagram.

Some supporters also faulted guards at the gathering for not being sufficiently alert; while others requested social media platforms to remove Mr Wen's videos.

Aftermath and Event Details

In footage circulating online, Grande seemed startled when she was approached by the intruder. Her cast members Michelle Yeoh and Erivo can be observed comforting her while Mr Wen was escorted away by guards.

Grande has remained silent on the situation, and the premiere activities continued without further issues.

Hundreds of fans had assembled in a mass of colorful attire at the Wicked: For Good international launch in a Singapore mall, including several who had waited for as long as a significant duration before it began.

The movie, to be premiered on November 21, is the follow-up of a two-part interpretation of the popular Broadway and West End show Wicked, which centers on the unlikely bond between two contrasting witches.

The musical itself is a spin-off of the 1900 story The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.

Grande, who acts as the character Glinda Glinda, was dressed in a light pink sequin dress at the gathering while Erivo, who portrays the wicked witch, wore a elegant ensemble embroidered with roses.

They were joined by fellow actor Jeff Goldblum.

The first movie, Wicked, was the highest-grossing film of last year in the UK, and received 10 Academy Award nods, winning several for best costume and production design.