In brief
Johnson Wen, a 26-year-old who recently gained notoriety for grabbing pop star Ariana Grande, was ejected from a Lady Gaga concert in Brisbane before it began. Despite not disrupting the performance, his history of public nuisance led to his removal. This follow-up incident highlights the ongoing issues surrounding safety and behavior at live events.
An Australian man who was jailed in Singapore and deported for charging at pop star Ariana Grande has been ejected from a Lady Gaga concert in his home country. Johnson Wen said on Instagram that he was 'kicked out' of the Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane on Tuesday night before the Lady Gaga show had started. The 26-year-old, who has a history of disrupting concerts and celebrity events, was sentenced to nine days in jail by a Singapore court last month for grabbing Grande during the Asian premiere of Wicked: For Good.Wen, who told the Singaporean judge in mitigation that he would 'not do it again', had not disrupted the performance in Brisbane, but was removed because of his history of public nuisance. Videos on social media showed security guards holding Wen by the arm and leading him out of the venue as the crowd both cheered and booed. The BBC has contacted Suncorp Stadium for comment.In a statement to the Sydney Morning Herald, the venue said it was made aware that 'a known serial offender may attempt to attend and disrupt' the concert by Lady Gaga, who is around halfway through her Mayhem World Tour. 'In the interest of the artist's safety, this individual was deemed a person of interest and not to be allowed to attend,' it said.Wen has gained notoriety since grabbing Grande at the Wicked: For Good premiere in the South East Asian city state, which is known for its strict laws, including on public behaviour. 'You seem to be attention-seeking, thinking only of yourself and not the safety of others when committing these acts,' Singaporean judge Christopher Goh reportedly told Wen. Wen was also banned from Singapore following the incident.Other videos on Wen's social media accounts show him jumping on stage and disrupting performances by global stars like Katy Perry and The Weeknd. The incident with Grande sparked outrage in Singapore. Fans accused Wen of 're-traumatising' the pop star and actress, who has spoken of experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder after a suicide bomb attack at her May 2017 concert in Manchester, killing 22 people and injuring hundreds.
