Ariana Grande attends the Wicked: For Good Asia-Pacific Premiere at Universal Studio Singapore. Photo / Getty Images
Ariana Grande attends the Wicked: For Good Asia-Pacific Premiere at Universal Studio Singapore. Photo / Getty Images
The serial prankster who accosted Ariana Grande at the Wicked: For Good premiere in Singapore overnight has gloated about his antics and subsequent arrest on social media.
The Australian man identified as Johnson Wen was arrested outside Universal Studios in Singapore after he charged towards Grande when she walked theyellow carpet with co-stars Cynthia Erivo, Michelle Yeoh and Jeff Goulburn.
“Dear Ariana Grande Thank You for letting me Jump on the Yellow Carpet with You,” Wen wrote on Instagram alongside a clip of himself rushing towards the star before being tackled by security guards.
In confronting footage, Wen broke through the barricade, prompting Erivo to jump into action, lunging between them and appearing to shout him down while shielding Grande.
Johnson Wen has previously stormed concerts by Katy Perry and The Weeknd. Photo / Instagram
Security quickly took over the situation, arresting him while Erivo and Yeoh comforted Grande. But it appears the prankster has since been released and has swiftly taken to Instagram to boast about his eventful night.
“I’m free after being arrested,” he bragged in a video filmed inside a shopping mall in Singapore.
In a series of Instagram videos filmed before he ambushed Grande at the event, Wen captured footage of himself outside Universal Studios, sitting with other fans as they waited for the stars to arrive.
“I finally met Ariana Grande tonight!!!” he captioned one clip in anticipation of his prank.
“I feel like I’m in a dream. That’s my best friend Ariana Grande and I’m gonna meet her,” he said as he pointed to a movie poster of the star in character as Glinda. “Yes, I’ve been dreaming about that.”
Johnson Wen calls himself “Troll Most Hated” on Instagram. Photo / Instagram
In another clip, he repeated, “Yes! Finally, I’ve dreamed about meeting Ariana Grande and finally my dream became true”, before laughing in the same manner of the film’s future Wicked Witch of the West, Elphaba (played by Erivo).
“Look at how cool that is,” he said, while pointing to all the promotional movie posters.
Grande was left visibly shaken by the encounter. In footage from the event, which shows the incident from a different angle, Grande is filmed looking completely rattled after being grabbed by Wen.
Erivo could be seen embracing Grande from behind as minders asked her if she was okay. Fans could also be heard worrying about the star.
Aussie man Johnson gloated about being “free” after he was released for accosting Ariana Grande. Photo / Instagram
“I’m okay,” she told Erivo and the entourage that formed around her.
This is not the first time the proclaimed “stage invader” has accosted a major celebrity at a public event.
Katy Perry was left momentarily stunned in June during the Sydney concert of her Lifetimes tour when Wen stormed the stage and managed to grab hold of her.
Perry was mid-song at Qudos Bank Arena, standing at her microphone stand with guitar in hand, when Wen bounded on to the stage and threw an arm around her. He was eventually tackled by security.
Wen, who describes himself as a “Troll Most Hated” on the bio of his Instagram account, posted multiple videos of the incident – all with captions thanking Perry for “letting me dance with you on stage”.
Last year, he also jumped on stage and sprinted towards The Weeknd at the star’s Melbourne concert, grabbing and hugging the singer until security dragged him from the stage.
Wen later shared the footage of his antics on Instagram, writing: “It was cool chatting with you while on the stage”.
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