SINGAPORE: The premiere of the highly anticipated film Wicked: For Good at Resorts World Sentosa in the Lion City today was briefly marred by an incident involving an uninvited guest.
The Straits Times reported that as the cast walked the yellow carpet, the devoted cheers of hundreds of fans turned to shock when a man breached the security barricade and rushed towards star Ariana Grande.
Multiple viral videos captured the moment the man attempted to put his arm around the pop star.
He was quickly intercepted by her co-star, Cynthia Erivo, and several security officers.
The intruder was then forcefully thrown back over the barricade by a guard.
This action prompted loud protests from some nearby fans who felt the security guard’s handling of the situation was too rough.
Following the disruption, the remaining cast, which included Tan Sri Michelle Yeoh, immediately gathered around Grande to ensure she was unharmed before they continued their walk to greet fans and sign autographs.
It quickly emerged that the man, identified as Johnson Wen, is a known serial event disrupter.
The 25-year-old Australian national has a history of similar antics at major international events, including a Katy Perry concert in Sydney in June and the men’s 100m final at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Wen openly documents his intrusions on his Instagram account, where his bio boasts titles such as the “2023 World Cup Final Pitch Invader” and “Troll Most Hated”.
His profile also features a link soliciting donations to “pay off all my bills.”
In a previous interview with Australian TV news outlet 9News on June 10, Wen said he was unemployed and residing in a backpackers’ hostel.
The Wicked premiere at Universal Studios Singapore in Resorts World Sentosa was the only Asian stop on the film’s international promotional tour, which is scheduled to conclude in New York City on Nov 17.
The stars, including Grande, Erivo, Yeoh, Jeff Goldblum, and director Jon M. Chu, were smartly dressed for the ticketed event.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
