Person Who Approached Ariana Grande during Film Launch Barred from Singapore
A man from Australia who vaulted over a barricade and reached for celebrity Ariana Grande has been deported and prohibited from Singapore.
The individual, 26, was given a sentence to over a week in detention for causing a public disturbance and has now been "prohibited from returning to Singapore," Singaporean immigration authorities told news outlets.
He forced his way beyond security and rushed toward the celebrity, who was attending the Asian debut for Wicked: For Good on November 13. Co-performer Cynthia Erivo pulled him back from Grande.
The individual has a record of interrupting performances and high-profile gatherings, including jumping on stage at Katy Perry's Sydney concert in June this year.
The occurrence sparked outrage in Singapore, with many claiming he of causing further distress to the star.
The singer has mentioned experiencing trauma-related anxiety after a suicide bomb attack at her performance in the English city in spring of 2017 took the lives of 22 individuals and affected hundreds.
In the legal process, the judge was informed he had made efforts to breach on the film's premiere on two occasions, according to local news sources.
He then made a second attempt to cross the barriers. Protection personnel prevented him and held him in place.
The man subsequently shared videos expressing gratitude to the star for permitting his access and said he was "released."
Authorities took him into custody the subsequent day and charged him with public nuisance, to which he confessed.
The District Judge Christopher Goh was quoted by media reports as saying that he was looking for publicity, commenting that he was incorrect to think he would not suffer any consequences.
The actress has not spoken about the case.
Erivo spoke about the incident to a media outlet, saying that she "simply desired to ensure my colleague was secure."
"I believe he had no intention to us injury, but you never know with those things, and I sought to ensure that she was fine. That was my initial reaction," she commented.
