🔗 Share this article

Loyal fans of Ariana Grande are demanding that a person who leaped a barrier and seized the actress during Thursday's Wicked: For Good launch be detained or removed from Singapore.

A viral video reveals the person identified as Johnson Wen shoving aside camera operators and rushing toward Grande while the performers proceeded down a promenade accompanied by supporters.

Fellow actress Cynthia Erivo immediately wrested the surprised star away from Mr Wen, who was seen being escorted out of the gathering by event staff.

Mr Wen shared on Instagram late on Thursday that he was "released after being taken in", though court documents indicated that he was due to be present on the next day. It is unknown if he was faced legal action.

Record of Disruptions

This is not an isolated incident for Mr Wen, who calls himself a "Notorious Troublemaker", has invaded a concert or event. His Instagram account contains videos of him disturbing other high-profile occasions, including jumping on stage at the artist's Sydney concert in June this year and in a like fashion during The Chainsmokers concert in the same location last December.

"Measures must be taken enforced against him as this is obviously a legal violation," commented an Instagram user, in a reply to a video Mr Wen uploaded of his behavior.

"Oh wow so you do this a lot... how aren't you in jail?" another Instagram user wrote.

Supporters Voice Worry Over Grande's Well-being

Several followers criticized Mr Wen for "re-traumatising" Grande, who had revealed dealing with trauma-related anxiety after a terrorist explosion at the conclusion of her May 2017 concert in Manchester, killing 22 people and harming hundreds.

"The star has endured numerous terrifying experiences... including the Manchester tragedy, and you believed breaching security was amusing?" said one more comment on Instagram.

Several attendees also faulted event staff at the premiere for not being adequately prepared; while some requested online networks to block Mr Wen's videos.

Response and Event Details

In clips circulating online, Grande looked surprised when she was touched by the man. Her cast members Michelle Yeoh and Erivo can be spotted comforting her while Mr Wen was led out by staff.

Grande has remained silent on the event, and the rest of the event continued without further issues.

Hundreds of attendees had assembled in a sea of colorful attire at the Wicked: For Good Asia-Pacific launch in a Singapore mall, including a number who had queued for as long as a significant duration before it began.

The motion picture, to be premiered on the 21st of November, is the sequel of a two-film adaptation of the acclaimed theatrical musical Wicked, which focuses on the unlikely relationship between two distinct characters.

The production itself is a spin-off of the 1900 children's novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.

Grande, who portrays the good witch Glinda, was adorned in a champagne pink sequin dress at the gathering while Erivo, who portrays the villainous character, wore a sleek black dress embroidered with roses.

They were alongside cast member Jeff Goldblum.

The first movie, Wicked, was the top-earning motion picture of last year in the UK, and scored ten Oscar nominations, earning several for best costume and production design.