Man Who Grabbed Ariana Grande Is Removed From Lady Gaga Concert in Brisbane
A man known for repeatedly interrupting celebrity appearances, including grabbing Ariana Grande on a red carpet, was removed from a Lady Gaga concert in Brisbane on Dec. 9. The individual, identified as 26-year-old Johnson Wen, attempted to enter SunCorp Stadium disguised with sunglasses and a false mustache, but was stopped by security before Gaga’s performance for the Mayhem Ball tour.
Fan-shot video circulating on social media shows Wen being surrounded by venue staff as he is escorted out of the stadium’s floor section. Security personnel are seen removing his sunglasses, wristbands, and a lanyard while nearby concertgoers applaud his removal and express frustration at his presence. Wen, who appeared calm, briefly turned to the audience and smiled.
Wen gained international attention in November after rushing Grande on the Wicked: For Good premiere red carpet in Singapore. The moment sparked widespread concern, as the singer appeared startled when Wen grabbed her during the photo line. Authorities detained him for nine days and charged him with public nuisance. He was later deported from Singapore and sent back to his home country of Australia.
Wen has referred to himself online as “Pyjama Man,” a nickname tied to earlier publicity attempts. His social media activity frequently portrays these disruptions as spontaneous fan interactions rather than security breaches, and he has often positioned himself as a devoted admirer of the artists he approaches.
In an Instagram post uploaded before the Singapore incident, Wen claimed Grande was his “best friend,” adding, “I’m going to meet her, yes, I’ve been dreaming about that,” suggesting he viewed the encounter as personal rather than invasive.
The situation at the Lady Gaga concert appeared to be anticipated by certain fans. One attendee on X wrote that a woman in the early entry section recognized Wen and alerted security before the concert began. “Many finger snaps to the girl in EE who got security and gave them a description of that fuckin weirdo so they could legit just wait for his stupid disguise to try to get in,” the attendee posted. “Actual mental help is needed for that man.”
The comments reflect concern from several concertgoers who viewed Wen’s repeated appearances at high-profile events as troubling behavior rather than overexcitement or fandom.
Wen later confirmed his removal on Instagram, saying: “Got kicked out of Lady Gaga concert. The show doesn’t start till 8 pm. The early fans were booing me.” The social post did not reference any attempt at physical confrontation, nor did Wen express remorse for prior incidents.
According to multiple accounts, Wen has previously attempted to access stages or fan areas during performances by Katy Perry, The Weeknd, and The Chainsmokers, behavior that has made him recognizable to security teams and certain fan communities. These instances have varied in outcome, but several resulted in immediate removal and increased monitoring by event staff.
Security professionals who work stadium and arena tours note that stage and audience breaches present safety risks not only for performers but also for crowd management, particularly when the disruptions occur near high-energy sections of a concert.
The arrest following the Ariana Grande incident marked the first time Wen faced formal legal consequences for his actions. The Singapore police treated the red carpet breach as a public safety issue and detained him until deportation could be arranged. Authorities emphasized that interfering with controlled media and celebrity events can be treated as a criminal matter, regardless of intent.
The public reaction noted that Grande appeared shaken during the moment of contact, raising renewed conversations about performer security and boundaries. Many observers also questioned how Wen had managed to get physically close to multiple global artists over several years.
