Supporters Demand Detainment of Man Who Grabbed Ariana Grande
Passionate followers of Ariana Grande are demanding that a individual who breached a barricade and touched the actress during Thursday's Wicked: For Good launch be detained or expelled from Singapore.
A widely shared footage shows the person identified as Johnson Wen pushing past photographers and rushing toward Grande while the performers made its way down a event pathway flanked by onlookers.
Fellow actress Cynthia Erivo immediately guided the shocked performer away from Mr Wen, who was observed being removed of the event by event staff.
Mr Wen shared on Instagram Thursday evening that he was "free after being detained", though court documents revealed that he was due to attend court on the following morning. It is not clear if he was formally accused.
History of Incidents
This is not the first time for Mr Wen, who labels himself a "Controversial Figure", has disrupted a celebrity gathering. His Instagram feed features clips of him disturbing other high-profile occasions, including rushing the platform at the artist's Sydney performance in June this year and in a similar way during The Chainsmokers event in the city last year.
"There needs to be action taken against him as this is obviously a legal violation," commented an Instagram commenter, in a message to a video Mr Wen posted of his actions.
"Oh wow so you do this a lot... how aren't you in jail?" another Instagram user wrote.
Fans Voice Worry Over Grande's Past Trauma
Numerous followers blamed Mr Wen for "causing further distress" Grande, who had discussed suffering from PTSD after a terrorist explosion at the conclusion of her 2017 performance in Manchester, claiming the lives of 22 people and injuring numerous individuals.
"The star has endured numerous terrifying experiences... including the Manchester tragedy, and you believed breaching security was amusing?" wrote a further comment on Instagram.
Several supporters also questioned event staff at the gathering for not being adequately prepared; while others requested social media platforms to block Mr Wen's videos.
Aftermath and Premiere Information
In videos shared widely, Grande looked surprised when she was touched by the intruder. Her cast members Michelle Yeoh and Erivo can be spotted consoling her while Mr Wen was led out by staff.
Grande has remained silent on the incident, and the remaining proceedings continued without further issues.
Many of fans had congregated in a sea of colorful attire at the Wicked: For Good Asia-Pacific debut in a Singapore mall, including a number who had stood in line for as long as a significant duration before it started.
The motion picture, to be launched on November 21, is the sequel of a two-film adaptation of the acclaimed Broadway and West End musical Wicked, which focuses on the surprising relationship between two contrasting witches.
The production itself is a derivative of the classic book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.
Grande, who acts as the good witch Glinda, was dressed in a light pink glittering gown at the premiere while Erivo, who portrays the Elphaba, 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 earned 10 Academy Award nods, earning several for excellent wardrobe and set decoration.