The Australian man notorious for manhandling pop icon Ariana Grande in Singapore has found his reputation precedes him, facing a preemptive ejection from a Lady Gaga concert in Brisbane on Tuesday night.

Johnson Wen’s removal from Suncorp Stadium marks a significant shift in venue security protocols, prioritizing artist safety over ticket-holder rights by targeting "known serial offenders" before they have a chance to disrupt proceedings.

Preemptive Strike

Wen, 26, took to Instagram to complain that he was "kicked out" of the venue before the Bad Romance singer had even taken the stage. Unlike previous incidents where Wen actively disrupted events, this ejection appears to be entirely preventative.

Video footage circulating on social media captures the moment security personnel gripped Wen by the arm, escorting him out of the stadium. The reaction from the crowd was a chaotic mix of cheers and boos, highlighting the polarizing nature of his public profile.

In a statement provided to the Sydney Morning Herald, Suncorp Stadium management confirmed they had received intelligence that a "known serial offender may attempt to attend and disrupt" the show, which is part of Lady Gaga's global 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," the venue stated, underscoring a zero-tolerance approach to potential threats.

A Pattern of Nuisance

Wen is not a stranger to law enforcement or the limelight. His ejection in Australia comes less than a month after a high-profile legal battle in Singapore, a city-state renowned for its uncompromising judicial system.

• The Offense: Wen grabbed Ariana Grande during the Asian premiere of Wicked: For Good.
• The Sentence: A Singaporean court sentenced him to nine days in jail.
• The Aftermath: He was subsequently deported back to Australia.

During his trial in Singapore, Wen pleaded for leniency, telling the judge he would "not do it again." While he technically adhered to that promise by not physically disrupting the Brisbane show, his track record was sufficient grounds for security to revoke his access.

For event organizers globally—and potentially for promoters here in Kenya—this incident sets a precedent: past behavior is now a valid metric for current risk assessment. As the lines between fan enthusiasm and harassment blur, venues are increasingly unwilling to gamble with the safety of their headliners.