- Benjamin Glaze, 26, competed on American Idol in 2016
- Glaze received a kiss from judge Katy Perry after she said he had never been kissed
- Police say 700 images and videos of sexual abuse of minors have been discovered
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An American Idol contestant who went viral after Katy Perry kissed him during his 2016 audition has been arrested for alleged possession of child pornography.
Per TMZBenjamin Glaze, 26, was arrested Friday afternoon after the Tulsa Police Department’s Sexual Predator/Digital Evidence Recovery Unit received a tip.
Glaze was arrested at the city jail and released later that evening on $50,000 bail.
Police say a warrant led them to discover more than 700 images and videos depicting sexual abuse of minors on his mobile device.
Perry, 39, faced backlash for kissing then-19-year-old Benjamin after telling judges during his audition that he had never been kissed before.
Former American Idol contestant Benjamin Glaze, who went viral after Katy Perry kissed him during his 2016 audition, has been arrested for allegedly possessing child pornography
Perry, 39, faced backlash for kissing then-19-year-old Benjamin after telling judges during his audition that he had never been kissed before
After the viral on-air hug, Benjamin came to Katy’s defense in a lengthy social media post.
“I don’t think I was sexually harassed by Katy Perry,” he wrote at the time.
He added, “I felt awkward in the sense that I had never been kissed before and I didn’t expect it.
“My main goal is to reach people through the universal love of music and not to cause arguments or anger against anyone or about any situation!”
Glaze was in his late teens when he auditioned for American Idol in October 2015 with a self-penned song called Stadium.
He received a lot of press for the lip lock, but failed to win over the judges and progress in the singing competition.
“I wish I had performed better in this moment,” Benjamin, who comes from a conservative family in Oklahoma, added in his Instagram statement.
He also said afterwards, “I should have chosen a different song to sing and calmed myself down regardless of the kiss.” I should have been able to perform under pressure.’
After the viral on-air hug, Benjamin came to Katy’s defense in a lengthy social media post
He got a lot of press for the lip lock a few years ago, but failed to win over the judges and progress in the singing competition
The 143 musician was also defended by her co-judge Luke Bryan shortly after the incident.
When the country crooner was interviewed by The Morning Show host Larry Emdur, he said, “It’s a shame that things like this turn into such a big story. I saw a real interview where the guy said he thought everything was cool.”
He added: “I have to support Katy on that. We (the judges) will sometimes be right and sometimes wrong.
“We’re out there criticizing people. One day they say something that not everyone will like. That’s exactly what you signed up for.”