YouTube troll Johnny Somali will face trial in South Korea after he was indicted after ‘causing a commotion’
South Korean prosecutors have charged influencer troll Johnny Somali after he caused a ‘commotion’ at a supermarket.
The 24-year-old influencer, whose real name is Ramsey Khalid Ismael, has built an online audience by issuing insults and provocative comments while traveling abroad, especially in Asia.
Ismael has been banned from several livestream platforms, including Twitch and Kick, for his stunts.
In a series of videos posted to Instagram last month, he was seen drinking alcohol in a supermarket before pouring instant noodles.
Although the first video was removed from his page, Ismael left a video of himself cleaning up the mess, with the caption: “I AM INNOCENT. THE KOREAN GOVERNMENT AND THE MEDIA ARE CORRUPTION. I AM THE OJ SIMPSON OF ASIA. THE NORTH KOREAN STATE MEDIA WILL NOT SHOW THIS CLIP.”
The 24-year-old influencer, whose real name is Ramsey Khalid Ismael, has built an online audience by uttering insults and provocative comments while traveling abroad, especially in Asia
He also streamed himself kissing the Statue of Peace during a live video
Ismael has been banned from several livestream platforms, including Twitch and Kick, for his stunts
In the video, he appears to be on the phone with an employee, telling him, “Let me clean up this mess, I’ve made a big mess.” Let me clean up this mess.”
South Korean prosecutors said he will face trial and has been banned from leaving the country, although he has not been detained.
It comes after Ismael was banned from leaving the South while authorities investigate him over drug claims.
After receiving reports from an emergency hotline accusing the streamer of drug use, police quickly launched an investigation.
Korean law firm Lee & Lee claimed that if Somali is found guilty, he could face 10 years in prison or a fine of up to 100 million won ($95,000).
The streamer, from Arizona, was also discussed in the South Korean parliament last month after a series of videos emerged showing him wreaking havoc in the country.
One MP questioned whether there will be legal consequences for his actions, which included disrespecting a memorial statue and casting windows on the floor of a supermarket.
Somali, real name Ramsey Khalid Ismael, became famous in the East Asian country for his disruptive and often offensive stunts
Somalia has previously said he would perform lewd acts on a statue, Korea JoongAng Daily reported
He also streamed himself kissing the Statue of Peace during a live video – a memorial honoring Korean comfort women forced into sexual slavery by the Japanese military during World War II.
The following week, he reportedly applied baby oil to the statue while implying that he would perform lewd acts on it, Korea JoongAng Daily reported.
“We are keeping an eye on Johnny Somali,” the parliament speaker said.
It came after Somali was reportedly taken into custody for his own protection late last month after a livestream showed him being attacked by someone wearing a mask.
His alleged attacker, who has since been identified as a rival YouTuber from Japan, was arrested and the Somali man was later seen on the internet sitting in the back of a police car.
The streamer is seen drinking Soju, being disrespectful to officials and infuriating locals in images circulating on social media.
“Americans have a lot more freedom here,” he said in one clip.
American YouTuber Johnny Somali was previously banned from leaving South Korea as authorities investigate him over drug claims
Somali man was reportedly taken into custody for his own protection late last month after a livestream showed him being attacked by someone wearing a mask
The controversial streamer was debated in South Korea’s parliament last month after videos emerged showing it wreaking havoc in the country
‘These n****s are protecting us, us in the back of a police car. Come get us! Come get us!’
Police later told local media: “We intend to investigate the related complaints.”
The incident became the third time Somalis have been attacked in a week, after being defeated twice in Seoul the week before.
A Dexerto report claimed that Somali had been charged with two counts of assault and drug use – which he has vehemently denied.
“I have never been accused of assaulting anyone, this is a warning to remove this post and article or I will take legal action,” he wrote about the report on X.