Ariana Grande was attacked by a fan who rushed the red carpet at the Singapore premiere of her film 'Wicked: For Good' on Thursday, November 13.
Video / VE
A Singapore court has sentenced an Australian man to nine days in jail for rushing film star Ariana Grande at the Asian premiere of Wicked: For Good last week.
Grande and other stars were attending the opening night of the film at Universal Studios in the city-state when the man,identified by court papers as 26-year-old Johnson Wen, jumped a barricade and put his arm around the actor.
Video clips, which have gone viral online, show the man wrapping his arm around a shocked Grande before jumping up and down and smilingly waving to the crowd.
Grande’s co-star, Cynthia Erivo, then rushes to her defence and the man is grabbed by security guards and dumped back over the barricade.
“This act was premeditated,” Singapore District Judge Christopher Goh said, before handing Wen a nine-day sentence.
Johnson Wen is grabbed by security guards as co-star Cynthia Erivo (3rd left) reacts at the premiere in Singapore. Photo / STR, The Straits Times, AFP
This is far below the maximum penalty afforded by law: three months in jail, a fine of $1500, or both.
Dressed in a plain white shirt and appearing via a video link, Wen at first seemed confused when prosecutors read out the charge, but proceeded to enter a guilty plea.
Wen, who is alleged to have disrupted other global sports events and concerts, “showed a pattern of behaviour, which suggests that you will do it again”, said the judge.
“You seem to be attention seeking, thinking only of yourself and not the safety of others when committing these acts.”
He told Wen he was “wrong” to think his actions would bear no consequences.
“You should be mindful that there are always consequences for one’s actions.”
Asked if he had anything to say in mitigation of his sentence, Wen told the judge: “I won’t do it again, Your Honour. I am going to stop getting into trouble.”
Goh said the court 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”.
Already behind bars for four days, Wen has another five to serve.
It was not clear whether any further action would be taken against him once released.
The incident did not stop the much-anticipated premiere from going ahead on Thursday, with the cast huddling around Grande before continuing down the yellow carpet.
Grande, 32, began her career as a teen on Broadway before embarking on a hugely successful pop career.
