A devotee of The Weeknd is gaining widespread attention on TikTok after he dashed onto the stage, interrupting the artist’s performance at Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium last Saturday.
The footage of this stage intrusion was posted by the fan himself, known online as Pyjama Man, on Monday.
In the video, the overly enthusiastic fan showcases his parkour skills by dodging the vigilant security team, climbing onto the stage, and briefly hugging the pop sensation before being escorted off by the pursuing guards.
Interestingly, The Weeknd was in the middle of performing “Out Of Time” during the disruption, which could have served as an eerily fitting soundtrack had the fan harbored more malicious intentions.
Fortunately, the musician appeared only slightly taken aback, releasing a nervous laugh and cautiously stepping back, perhaps saving his (anxious) tears for another occasion.
Pyjama Man (which coincidentally is also the title of my memoir) mentioned in his TikTok caption that he rushed the stage and asked The Weeknd to “let me stay on the stage with you”.
Responding to another comment, he noted that the “Blinding Lights” singer “was happy towards me and wanted me to stay, but the bodyguard security interrupted”.
It seems we might be overlooking who the actual interrupter was in this scenario, and it’s likely not the security detail.
Pyjama Man, whose true name is Johnson Wen, was later featured on the Fifi, Fev & Nick radio show, where he revealed his act was premeditated because The Weeknd is “the biggest artist on Spotify” and he had been “daydreaming of going on that stage”.
“I didn’t care about the consequences,” Wen stated, “I was going to do it even though it was really bad.”
Following the incident, Wen mentioned he could be facing a lifetime ban from concerts or a hefty fine up to $10,000.
Fans of The Weeknd were quick to condemn the stage crasher upon viewing the footage, with one commenting that Wen “did not eat” and that the intrusion is “not a flex”.
Others described the episode as “disrespectful” and “horrible”, especially considering The Weeknd’s openness about his battles with anxiety, and urged the artist to employ a more competent security team.
This is not the first instance of Eventus Interruptus for the fan — whose TikTok bio reads “Troll, Prankster, Memer”.
Last year, he was identified as the streaker who invaded the field during the India vs Australia World Cup cricket final in Ahmedabad, brandishing a rainbow flag and a “Free Palestine” shirt.
He also claims responsibility for streaking during the FIFA Women’s World Cup final last year, and for causing a delay to the men’s 100m sprint final at the Paris Olympics in August. The man certainly gets around.
The Weeknd is set to perform next at Sydney’s Accor Stadium as part of his recently rescheduled Australian After Hours Til Dawn tour.
What’s the wager that Wen is already plotting another onstage encounter?
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