Fan Sentenced to Nine Days for Hugging Actress

The eagerly awaited movie ‘Wicked: For Good’ starring singer and actress Ariana Grande premiered in Singapore on 13 November. At the premiere, a fan bypassed security and suddenly hugged Ariana. The individual was later brought under the law.

A Singapore court has sentenced him to nine days in jail. The person who hugged her is an Australian citizen named Johnson Wayne, aged 26. CCTV footage shows Ariana walking on the red carpet with co-stars when Johnson Wayne ran and hugged her.

When he placed his hands on Ariana’s neck, Cynthia Erivo jumped in and, with the help of security, stopped him. The incident caused a stir at the venue. Ariana’s co-stars comforted her while the video quickly went viral on social media.

It is reported that Johnson Wayne has a history of breaching security at celebrity events. Previously, he had gone on stage at concerts of Katy Perry, The Weeknd, and The Chainsmokers.

BBC News reported on 17 November that a Singapore court sentenced Johnson Wayne to nine days in jail. The court stated he attempted to intrude twice at the premiere before security intervened. The next day, he was arrested and charged with causing public nuisance. Johnson Wayne admitted his guilt in court, promising he would “never do this again.”

Ariana Grande has not commented on the incident. In recent years, she has faced several unexpected events, including a terrorist attack at her 2017 concert in Manchester, England, which killed 22 attendees.

The fantasy musical film ‘Wicked: For Good’ will be released worldwide on 21 November. Alongside Ariana, the film features Cynthia Erivo and Jeff Goldblum and is directed by Jon M. Chu.

Khaborwala/TSN