Supporters Call for Custody of Individual Who Touched Ariana Grande
Loyal followers of Ariana Grande are calling for that a man who leaped a barrier and seized the actress during Thursday's Wicked: For Good debut be arrested or expelled from Singapore.
A widely shared footage shows the individual from Australia pushing past media personnel and rushing toward Grande while the actors made its way down a promenade accompanied by onlookers.
Fellow actress Cynthia Erivo immediately guided the surprised star away from Mr Wen, who was observed being escorted out of the gathering by security officers.
Mr Wen stated on Instagram Thursday evening that he was "free after being arrested", though official papers revealed that he was set to appear on the next day. It is uncertain if he was faced legal action.
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 contains clips of him disturbing other high-profile occasions, including breaching the performance area at Katy Perry's Sydney concert in June this year and in a like fashion during The Chainsmokers concert in the same location last year.
"Measures must be taken enforced against him as this is evidently a legal violation," commented an Instagram follower, in a reply to a video Mr Wen posted of his behavior.
"This appears to be a habit... why are you not imprisoned?" another Instagram user remarked.
Fans Show Disapproval Over Grande's Well-being
Numerous supporters accused Mr Wen for "triggering past anxiety" Grande, who had discussed suffering from trauma-related anxiety after a suicide bomb attack at the end of her May 2017 show in Manchester, claiming the lives of 22 people and injuring hundreds.
"Ariana has been through so many scary things... and at her Manchester concert and you thought it would be fun to jump the barricade?" commented another comment on Instagram.
Some fans also faulted event staff at the gathering for not being adequately prepared; while different individuals called for digital services to remove Mr Wen's videos.
Response and Event Details
In footage spreading on the internet, Grande looked surprised when she was grabbed by the man. Her cast members Michelle Yeoh and Erivo can be spotted reassuring her while Mr Wen was removed by guards.
Grande has remained silent on the incident, and the premiere activities proceeded as normal.
Hundreds of fans had assembled in a crowd of emerald and rose at the Wicked: For Good international launch in a Singapore shopping center, including several who had stood in line for as long as eight hours before it began.
The film, to be launched on November 21, is the follow-up of a dual version of the well-known stage show Wicked, which centers on the unlikely bond between two contrasting sorceresses.
The musical itself is a derivative of the twentieth-century children's novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.
Grande, who portrays the good witch Glinda, was dressed in a rosé glittering gown at the gathering while Erivo, who portrays the villainous character, wore a black tube gown featuring roses.
They were joined by fellow actor Jeff Goldblum.
The previous installment, Wicked, was the top-earning film of last year in the UK, and scored a dozen Oscar nominations, securing two for outstanding attire and artistic direction.