One man's selfishness at Wicked event cost Singapore its reputation

Serial intruder Johnson Wen cast a pall on what was supposed to be a glittery event for the country - and may have turned Ariana Grande off performing here for good

- Amanda Chai Style Correspondent

"We don't claim him." It has been the cry heard around Singapore in the past few days.

United by shock, indignation and anger, local netizens have banded together in a rare show of patriotism to decry Australian serial intruder Johnson Wen as not one of our own.

As they should. The 26-year-old, who charged at American actress and pop star Ariana Grande, 32, at the Singapore premiere of the movie sequel Wicked: For Good on Nov 13, has made the Republic the subject of headlines across the world for all the wrong reasons.

At the yellow carpet event attended by ticket-holding fans, influencers and the media, he jumped the barricade at Universal Studios Singapore at Resorts World Sentosa (RWS), rushed towards the 1.57m-tall singer and flung his arm roughly around her.

Grande's costar, British actress-singer Cynthia Erivo, swiftly forced herself in between them to protect the petite star, before security tossed him back over the barricade.

Wen, who posted smug videos of himself being set free after the incident, was charged in court on Nov 14. He pleaded guilty on Nov 17 to one charge of being a public nuisance and was sentenced to nine days' jail.

But the damage has been done. His actions have marred what was meant to be a momentous night for not just Wicked fans, but also all of Singapore. The Republic was one of just five stops alongside Sao Paulo, Paris, London and New York on the movie's international promo tour, and the only one in Asia.

Thanks to the global fandom and power of the Hollywood marketing machine, all eyes, even those beyond the region, were on Singapore.

The premiere was supposed to be a rare opportunity for Singapore to shine on the global stage outside the country's usual strengths of tech and finance.