By Steven J. Horowitz
Senior Music Writer
Three men have been arrested, two of whom have been charged, for sneaking people into Taylor Swift’s performance in Singapore on Monday.
A man named Yang Chenguang reportedly distracted security by chatting them up while Li Xiao Wei held a turnstile to let the three people into Singapore Sports Hub, reports BBC. Both have been charged with cheating. The third man arrested in connection with the incident has not been charged. Singapore police posted a statement about the event, claiming that four fans—two men and two women—are currently under investigation for criminal trespass.
Singapore has strict rules about cheating, which can result in a three-year prison sentence, a fine or both. One of the fans who snuck in was identified as Chinese influencer Yang Junhao, who claims to have unknowingly received counterfeit tickets.
“This is me after being told I bought fake tickets, and was brought out [of the concert] to be interrogated by the police… I pleaded with the police to let me stay outside the venue so that I can hear Taylor’s voice,” he said on Douyin, China’s version of TikTok
“I spent 12,000 yuan (£1,300; $1,700) on the ticket and didn’t know it was fake even after I entered the concert. I only realised it after officers brought us out… I am also a victim, I am stuck in Singapore and assisting in the investigation. It’s a difficult situation.”
Swift is currently on a run of six shows in Singapore. She previously struck a deal to have her Eras Tour come exclusively to the city-state instead of any other location in the Association of South East Asian Nations, comprised of 10 countries. Swift is scheduled to resume her Singapore shows today, with two more scheduled through the end of the week.
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