Following his arrest and subsequent charges in Singapore, the individual who boldly rushed and embraced Ariana Grande on the red carpet of Wicked: For Good's premiere last week has been deported and barred from the country's borders. Johnson Wen, a 26-year-old Australian, was initially charged with "being a public nuisance," as reported by the BBC. He took to Instagram to announce his "freedom" after being apprehended in an incident that reportedly "sparked widespread outrage" in Singapore.
However, the BBC now reports that Wen, after being sentenced to nine days in prison, has been "barred from re-entering Singapore" by the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority.
The original incident unfolded during the premiere of Wicked: For Good. As the cast walked the red carpet, Wen brushed past photographers and flung his arms around Grande, leaving her visibly shaken. Grande's co-star, Cynthia Erivo, immediately stepped in to shove the fan away and then protectively wrapped her arms around Grande.
During an appearance on NBC's Today on Thursday, Erivo shared her thoughts on the moment she rushed to Grande's aid: "I wasn't really thinking. I just wanted to ensure my friend was safe. I'm sure he didn't mean us harm, but you never know with these things, and I wanted to make sure she was okay. That was my first instinct."
Grande has yet to comment on the incident. Wen, who refers to himself as the "Troll Most Hated" on Instagram, reportedly has a history of pulling similar stunts. He has previously posted clips of himself disrupting other events—such as jumping onstage at concerts by Katy Perry, The Weeknd, and The Chainsmokers, as well as running onto sporting event fields.
