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Arrest Update Given After Ariana Grande Incident at Universal Studios

in Entertainment, Universal Studios

Posted on by Chloe James 2 Comments
Ariana Grande looking shocked as Glinda in 'Wicked'

Credit: Universal

There’s an update on the incident that unfolded at the Wicked: For Good (2025) premiere this week.

Arriving just one year after the critically acclaimed Wicked (2024), Wicked: For Good is set to pick up where its predecessor left off, with former best friends Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) – now known as the Wicked Witch of the West – and Glinda (Ariana Grande) pitted on opposite sides of conflict in the Land of Oz.

Ariana Grande as Glinda and Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba in Wicked
Credit: Universal Pictures

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Just like the first film, the sequel is directed by Jon Chu and will feature iconic tracks from the Broadway musical, including “For Good” and “No Good Deed.” Unlike Wicked, however, it will also feature original songs for Elphaba and Glinda, respectively.

We’ll have to wait until November 21 to find out how the film comes together, but if first reactions from previews and premieres are anything to go by, Wicked: For Good may actually pull off the rare feat of outdoing both the first film and the famously lackluster second half of the musical.

But while the internet has largely been abuzz with positive reactions to Wicked: For Good this week, one incident from the Singapore premiere has cast a shadow over its promotional tour.

Arrest Made After Fan Grabs Ariana Grande at Universal Studios Singapore

During a premiere event at Universal Studios Singapore on November 13, a man – named online as Johnson Wen – jumped over the barrier and hurtled towards Grande before grabbing the actress.

Cynthia Erivo protected Ariana Grande from a crazy person who jumped the barricade during the ‘WICKED: FOR GOOD’ premiere in Singapore.

While Erivo intercepted the man and shouted at him to “get off her, get off her, don’t touch her” before security forced him back over the barrier, he was not removed from the event until he later made a second attempt to run towards her down the yellow carpet. Grande was left looking notably shaken before being comforted by co-star Michelle Yeoh, who portrays Madame Morrible in the Wicked films.

Wen is a notorious event crasher. Also known as Pyjama Man online, he previously jumped on the stage during Katy Perry and The Weeknd concerts. After the latter incident, Wen confessed in an interview that he had no intentions of pulling back from this kind of behavior in the future. “I know it’s bad, but I didn’t care about the consequences,” he told 101.9 The Fox (via Daily Mail). “I was going to do it either way, even though it was really bad to do it.”

Before the premiere, Wen shared a video in which he claimed it was his “dream” to meet Grande.

🚨 Cynthia Erivo rushed to Ariana Grande’s defense at the ‘Wicked: For Good’ premiere in Singapore after a man jumped the fence and grabbed her. Ariana looked visibly shaken and scared.

Standing before a Wicked poster, Wen said, “I feel like I’m in a dream. That’s my best friend Ariana Grande and I’m going to meet her. I’ve been dreaming about that.”

Wen later posted on his Instagram stories, claiming that he had “finally met Ariana Grande,” and that he had been arrested but was now “free.”

As per Mothership, Wen is to be charged in court on November 14 for public nuisance. He potentially faces up to three months in jail, a fine of S$2,000, and both deportation and a ban from Singapore.

Fans were quick to criticize Wen on social media, particularly in light of Grande’s history.

Ariana Grande as Glinda descending in a bubble in Wicked
Credit: Universal Pictures

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Grande has previously discussed her struggles with post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety after a terrorist attack at her Manchester concert in May 2017 left 22 people dead and many more injured.

“I’ve always had anxiety,” she told British Vogue in 2018. “I’ve never really spoken about it because I thought everyone had it, but when I got home from tour (in September 2017), it was the most severe I think it’s ever been.”

Grande also added in regards to the Manchester bombing: “It’s hard to talk about because so many people have suffered such severe, tremendous loss. … I know those families and my fans, and everyone there experienced a tremendous amount of it as well. Time is the biggest thing. I feel like I shouldn’t even be talking about my own experience – like I shouldn’t even say anything. I don’t think I’ll ever know how to talk about it and not cry.”

ariana grande and cynthia erivo at universal studios in singapore ⋆˙⟡

The singer – who was nominated for an Academy Award for her portrayal of Glinda in Wicked – has since shared a collection of images from her time in Singapore on Instagram. While she didn’t mention the incident on the yellow carpet, she did post several images of herself and Erivo at Universal Studios Singapore before the premiere, including the pair meeting the adorable Dolores the Aquilops in its Jurassic Park area.

Another video shared from Singapore showed Grande and Erivo leaving dinner after the premiere in Resorts World Sentosa. The pair notably did not stop to greet anyone, with fans commenting on X, formerly known as Twitter, that it was “honestly understandable after what happened.”

What are your thoughts on the Wicked: For Good premiere incident?

in Entertainment, Universal Studios

Chloe James

Chloë is a theme park addict and self-proclaimed novelty hunter. She's obsessed with all things Star Wars, loves roller coasters (but hates Pixar Pal-A-Round), and lives for Disney's next Muppets project.

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