Australian man who rushed Ariana Grande on Wicked red carpet is jailed and deported

An Australian attention seeker’s stunt at Singapore's Wicked for Good premiere has ended in jail time and deportation after he rushed star Ariana Grande on the red carpet.

Singapore has reportedly deported an Australian man at the end of a nine-day jail term for rushing film star Ariana Grande during the Asian premier of “Wicked: For Good”.

Local media reported the man, Johnson Wen, was sent back to Australia “and has been barred from re-entering Singapore”, the city-state’s immigration authority said in a statement quoted by broadcaster CNA.

Cynthia Erivo, left, and Ariana Grande attend the premiere of "Wicked: For Good" at Lincoln Center in New York. Picture: Evan Agostini/Invision/AP

On the opening night of the much-hyped “Wicked” sequel on November 13, Wen jumped a barricade and put his arm around Grande.

He was arrested hours later and subsequently charged with “being a public nuisance”. Last week, a court sentenced Wen to nine days in jail.

Video clips, which have gone viral online, show Wen wrapping his arm around the shocked star before jumping up and down and smilingly waving to the crowd.

Johnson Wen pictured being restrained by security after he rushed Grande. Picture: The Straits Times / AFP

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

Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo at the premiere of their film "Wicked: For Good" in Singapore, after Johnson Wen rushed Grande. Picture: The Straits Times / AFP

Singapore District Judge Christopher Goh, who issued the jail sentence, called the Australian “attention seeking”.

Wen, who is alleged to have disrupted other global sports events and concerts, “showed a pattern of behaviour” which suggested that he will do it again, the judge had said before last week’s ruling.

Johnson Wen in an Instagram post after the Ariana Grande Wicked or Good Singapore red carpet incident. Picture: Pyjama Man/Instagram

The jail term was far below the maximum penalty afforded by law: three months in jail, a fine of $1500, or both.

Wen has told the court he was “wrong” to think his actions would bear no consequences and promised not to repeat the act.

The incident did not stop the premiere from going ahead, with the 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.

- With AFP

Originally published as Australian man who rushed Ariana Grande on Wicked red carpet is jailed and deported