Followers Call for Arrest of Man Who Seized Ariana Grande
Loyal supporters of Ariana Grande are demanding that a man who leaped a fence and seized the performer during yesterday's Wicked: For Good debut be detained or deported from Singapore.
A widely shared clip depicts the person identified as Johnson Wen shoving aside photographers and charging at Grande while the performers proceeded down a yellow carpet surrounded by supporters.
Co-star Cynthia Erivo quickly pulled the shocked star away from Mr Wen, who was spotted being escorted out of the gathering by event staff.
Mr Wen shared on Instagram Thursday evening that he was "let go after being taken in", though legal records indicated that he was scheduled to attend court on Friday morning. It is uncertain if he was faced legal action.
Record of Incidents
This is part of a pattern for Mr Wen, who describes himself as a "Controversial Figure", has crashed a concert or event. His Instagram account includes recordings of him disturbing other celebrity events, 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 same location last December.
"Measures must be taken enforced against him as this is obviously a punishable act," wrote an Instagram follower, in a message to a video Mr Wen posted of his behavior.
"You've done this repeatedly... how are you not behind bars?" a different Instagram user wrote.
Supporters Voice Worry Over the Star's Past Trauma
Numerous supporters blamed Mr Wen for "re-traumatising" Grande, who had spoken of dealing with trauma-related anxiety after a terrorist explosion at the end of her May 2017 performance in Manchester, killing 22 people and harming many.
"After everything she's faced... including the Manchester attack, you considered it entertaining to rush the barrier?" said a further comment on Instagram.
Some attendees also criticised event staff at the gathering for not being vigilant enough; while different individuals called for online networks to ban Mr Wen's uploads.
Response and Event Details
In footage circulating online, Grande appeared startled when she was touched by the man. Her co-stars Michelle Yeoh and Erivo can be spotted comforting her while Mr Wen was escorted away by staff.
Grande has not issued a statement on the incident, and the remaining proceedings continued without further issues.
Numerous of attendees had assembled in a sea of emerald and rose at the Wicked: For Good international debut in a Singapore venue, including several who had queued for as long as many hours before it commenced.
The film, to be premiered on November 21, is the follow-up of a two-film version of the well-known Broadway and West End musical Wicked, which centers on the unlikely bond between two contrasting sorceresses.
The production itself is a adaptation of the 1900 story The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.
Grande, who portrays the benevolent sorceress Glinda, was decked out in a rosé glittering gown at the gathering while Erivo, who portrays the wicked witch, wore a elegant ensemble decorated with roses.
They were alongside fellow actor Jeff Goldblum.
The previous installment, Wicked, was the most successful movie of last year in the UK, and received ten Academy Award nods, winning two for best costume and production design.