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Singapore street performer Bryan Wong may have performed all around the world, but few gigs can compare to the one where Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong randomly turned up in the audience.
The 29-year-old acrobatics artist was performing his Circles In Circus act at Rainforest Wild Asia when he spotted Lee and his wife, Ho Ching, watching from the crowd.
In a video later posted to social media, Wong zoomed in to Lee’s face, joking: “Sir, I’m sorry, I’m going to zoom in to your face, thank you very much!” and a smiling Lee was seen waving back.
“Stunned like a vegetable,” Wong captioned the clip, helpfully reminding followers that the senior minister was also Singapore’s former prime minister.
And, no, he was not performing at an event where he had expected Lee to show up.
Wong shared that when he spotted Lee in the audience, he was internally debating whether he should acknowledge him.
“I didn’t know if he [wanted] to be low-key or not, but then, my face [was] already stunned, and the audience saw it. So I said: ‘Um, sir, I don’t know if I should have acknowledged you, but I’m sorry, it’s a bit too late now, so everyone, that’s our ex-prime minister Lee Hsien Loong!’ and everyone just cheered,” he said.
Wong added that after the initial shock, he tried to treat Lee like any other audience member. “Sir, you are really cool, but this is still my show,” he said.

It is not surprising to spot Lee at the park, as he often shares photos of his visits to the Mandai Wildlife Reserve (which includes the Zoo, River Wonders and Bird Paradise).
Ironically, Wong said it was not his most ideal performance, especially to have such a distinguished guest watching.
He had decided to use a larger performance wheel; one he had not touched in two years. The new prop is 3kg (6lbs) heavier, and midway through the routine, fatigue kicked in.
“I was so tired and made so many mistakes,” he said.
Unfortunately, Wong said that he did not manage to score a selfie with Lee as he was busy collecting money from the crowd post show.
Still, he has no regrets and said that if given the chance, he would simply thank Lee personally.
“[I’d tell him] ‘Thank you for taking the time to watch and appreciate a more niche part of Singapore’s arts scene, and for giving me the time to entertain you,’” he said.
This is not Wong’s first brush with viral fame, though it is much more favourable than the last.
In July 2024, a clip of Wong getting punched by a stranger while busking at London’s Covent Garden went viral, and Wong, who kept calm and collected throughout the incident, was praised for his reaction.
This story was first published by CNA


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Lee Hsien Loong attended Bryan Wong’s show at Rainforest Wild Asia, creating a viral moment with the street performer


Lee Hsien Loong attended Bryan Wong’s show at Rainforest Wild Asia, creating a viral moment with the street performer.


Lee Hsien Loong

Fame and celebrity

Britain

Singapore busker ‘stunned like a vegetable’ after ex-PM Lee spotted at performance

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Lee Hsien Loong attended Bryan Wong’s show at Rainforest Wild Asia, creating a viral moment with the street performer

Lee Hsien Loong attended Bryan Wong’s show at Rainforest Wild Asia, creating a viral moment with the street performer