SINGAPORE: The serial intruder who charged at actress Ariana Grande during a movie premiere at Universal Studios Singapore was given nine days’ jail on Monday (Nov 17).
Australian Johnson Wen, 26, pleaded guilty to one charge of being a public nuisance.
The court heard that Wen arrived in Singapore on Nov 11 on a 90-day social visit pass to attend the movie premiere and for a holiday.
He caused a commotion during the premiere of Wicked: For Good on Nov 13 by charging towards Grande, who stars in the movie.
The court heard that Wen jumped over the barricade as cast members were walking down the yellow carpet between 7pm and 7.10pm on Nov 13.
When he reached Grande, he put his arm around her while jumping up and down.
Wen was stopped by Grande’s co-star Cynthia Erivo, who forced herself between them while security guards apprehended him.
After he was taken away, he returned again to try and jump over the barricade a second time, but was pinned down by security.
Later that night, Wen posted a video of the incident on his Instagram and TikTok accounts with the caption: “Dear Ariana Grande Thank You for letting me Jump on the Yellow Carpet with You.”
He was arrested in Temple Street around midnight on Nov 14, and was charged on the same day. He has been in remand since.
Wen did not react when videos of the incident were played in court.
He is known for disrupting several international events, such as Katy Perry’s Sydney concert in June, and the men’s 100m final at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The prosecution sought a week’s jail for Wen, noting that he is a “serial intruder” and had posted a video of his incident to publicise his criminal conduct to gain popularity.
The fact that he is a fan of the movie and the cast members should not be considered a mitigating factor, added Deputy Public Prosecutor Jane Lim.
When asked by District Judge Christopher Goh if he had anything to say in mitigation, Wen said: “I won’t do it again, Your Honour.”
In response, the judge said: “Are you paying lip service or is this your intention?”
Wen replied: “Yes, I’m going to stop.”
While passing sentence, Judge Goh noted that this was not the first time Wen had done something like this, adding that Wen did not face any consequences previously.
“Perhaps you thought the same would occur here, but Mr Wen, you are wrong. You should be mindful that there are always consequences for one’s actions.”
Judge Goh also said Wen’s acts were premeditated, as he had planned the act to obtain the videos to post on social media.
“You seem to be attention-seeking, thinking only of yourself, and not the safety of others, when committing these acts,” the judge said.
For being a public nuisance, an offender can be jailed for up to three months, fined up to S$2,000, or both. - The Straits Times/ANN
