Followers Urge Arrest of Individual Who Seized Ariana Grande
Devoted fans of Ariana Grande are calling for that a man who jumped a barrier and grabbed the celebrity during the recent Wicked: For Good launch be arrested or removed from Singapore.
A circulating video shows the person identified as Johnson Wen shoving aside media personnel and lunging at Grande while the cast proceeded down a event pathway accompanied by fans.
Cast member Cynthia Erivo quickly guided the stunned actress away from Mr Wen, who was observed being removed of the event by event staff.
Mr Wen shared on Instagram late on Thursday that he was "released after being arrested", though legal records revealed that he was set to attend court on the following morning. It is not clear if he was charged.
History of Incidents
This is not an isolated incident for Mr Wen, who calls himself a "Troll Most Hated", has disrupted a celebrity gathering. His Instagram feed includes clips of him disrupting other star-studded functions, including rushing the platform at the artist's Sydney concert in recently and in a like fashion during The Chainsmokers concert in the same location last December.
"Steps should be implemented taken against him as this is evidently a legal violation," stated an Instagram commenter, in a response to a video Mr Wen shared of his act.
"You've done this repeatedly... how are you not behind bars?" another Instagram user remarked.
Fans Express Concern Over Ariana's Well-being
Numerous supporters accused Mr Wen for "re-traumatising" Grande, who had spoken of suffering from trauma-related anxiety after a suicide bomb attack at the conclusion of her spring 2017 concert in Manchester, claiming the lives of 22 people and harming many.
"After everything she's faced... including the Manchester attack, you considered it entertaining to rush the barrier?" commented one more comment on Instagram.
Some attendees also faulted guards at the premiere for not being adequately prepared; while different individuals demanded online networks to ban Mr Wen's videos.
Reaction and Premiere Information
In videos circulating online, Grande seemed surprised when she was grabbed by the individual. Her co-stars Michelle Yeoh and Erivo can be observed reassuring her while Mr Wen was removed by staff.
Grande has not issued a statement on the situation, and the rest of the event carried on uninterrupted.
Hundreds of supporters had congregated in a mass of colorful attire at the Wicked: For Good regional premiere in a Singapore mall, including some who had queued for as long as a significant duration before it started.
The movie, to be launched on the 21st of November, is the follow-up of a two-part version of the well-known stage production Wicked, which focuses on the unexpected friendship between two contrasting characters.
The musical itself is a spin-off of the 1900 story The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.
Grande, who acts as the benevolent sorceress Glinda, was decked out in a rosé sparkling outfit at the gathering while Erivo, who portrays the villainous character, wore a sleek black dress featuring roses.
They were alongside cast member Jeff Goldblum.
The initial film, Wicked, was the most successful motion picture of the previous year in the UK, and scored a dozen Academy Award nods, securing two for outstanding attire and set decoration.