SINGAPORE: Singapore authorities charged an Australian man on Friday for rushing film star Ariana Grande at the Asia premiere of Wicked: For Good.

Grande and other stars were attending the opening night of the film at Universal Studios in the city-state when the man, identified by court papers as Johnson Wen, 26, jumped a barricade and rushed the actor.

Video clips, which have gone viral, show the man wrapping his arm around a shocked Grande before he jumps up and down and waves to the crowd.

Grande’s co-star Cynthia Erivo then rushes to her defence. The man is grabbed by security guards and dumped back over the barricade.

Wen was charged on Friday with “being a public nuisance”, Singapore court documents posted online showed.

Wen represented himself and said he would plead guilty, added the documents.

He is to appear in court again on Monday.

If sentenced, Wen faces a $1,500 fine, three months in jail, or both.

Singapore’s public prosecutions office could not immediately be reached for comment.

The movie launch went ahead on Thursday night, with the movie cast huddling around Grande before continuing down the yellow carpet.

Grande, 32, began her career as a teen on Broadway before embarking on a hugely successful pop career.

Published in Dawn, November 15th, 2025