Man who accosted Ariana Grande sentenced to jail in Singapore
The law is moving quickly in Singapore; Last week, an Australian man with a habit of disrupting events charged Ariana Grande after she jumped a barrier at the Asian premiere of “Wicked: For Good.”
He is already serving time for the crime this week.
Johnson Wen, 26, was found guilty of public nuisance on Monday and sentenced to nine days in jail. BBC reported. Videos of the incident on Thursday show Wen jumping over a barricade at Universal Studios Singapore and running towards Grande, then wrapping her arms around her neck and shoulders, jumping up and down and flashing a big smile for the cameras. He was separated from his shocked target by co-star Cynthia Erivo and escorted away by security.
But that’s not all; The BBC said Wen tried a second time to jump the barricades lining the event’s yellow carpet but was pinned down by security. He was arrested on Friday.
The Australian was in Singapore on a 90-day tourist visa and has been detained since his arrest. He was sentenced to prison on Monday after the prosecution requested a week behind bars on a charge that carries a prison sentence of up to three months, according to a statement in Singapore. Straits Times.
“Dude this isn’t true,” one commenter wrote on Thursday on an Instagram post that showed Wen jumping onto the carpet and grabbing Grande. “Look how much you scared him! You put your hands on him. I hope you do that.” [are] He is accused of something and banned from events.”
The judge in Singapore apparently thought something similar when speaking to Wen at the hearing.
Wen has rushed onto stages and into the middle of sporting events, including the 2024 Olympics in Paris, causing disruption to many celebrities and sporting events. “I won’t do this again, your honor,” the judge said when asked if there was anything he could do to tone down his behavior, according to the Straits Times newspaper.
“Are you just paying lip service, or is that your intention?” the judge asked. Wen responded positively, saying he would “stop.”
The judge cited Wen’s previous trespasses and noted that he had not previously faced consequences, the Straits Times reported.
“Perhaps you thought the same thing would happen here, but Mr. Wen, you are wrong,” the judge said, adding that actions always have consequences.
The judge said Wen appeared to be “an attention-seeking person who was only concerned about himself and not the safety of others when committing these actions.” He said the action was premeditated and added two days to the requested sentence. It is unclear whether Wen was also fined.
Prosecutors had labeled him a “serial intruder” aiming to gain influence online, the BBC reported.
“Dear Ariana Grande, Thank you for letting me Jump on the Yellow Carpet with You,” Wen, known online as “Pajama Man,” wrote on Instagram as he posted a video of himself during the incident on Thursday. Commentators did not support his enthusiasm.
After promoting “Wicked: For Good” with her castmates in cities around the world, Grande did not mention what was happening in Singapore when she attended a Q&A about the film in Century City on Saturday. attended the motion picture academy’s 16th Governors Awards held at the Ray Dolby Ballroom in Hollywood on Sunday; where Tom Cruise was given an honorary Oscar along with Debbie Allen, Dolly Parton and production designer Wynn Thomas.
“Wicked: For Good,” which also stars Jeff Goldblum as the Wizard, is scheduled to have its U.S. premiere in New York on Monday, and the film opens in wide release domestically on Thursday.
