() – A controversial American streamer faces the possibility of prison in South Korea for his offensive acts, in a case that highlights the rise of so-called “annoying influencers” seeking clicks abroad.
Ramsey Khalid Ismael, 24, commonly known by his online alias “Johnny Somali,” was indicted for causing a “disturbance” at a convenience store, Seoul prosecutors confirmed to . If convicted, he could face up to five years in prison.
A ban on leaving the country was also imposed on Ismael, preventing him from leaving South Korea while authorities continue to investigate, he reported. MBC News affiliate.
attempted to contact Ismael for comment. It is not clear if he has an attorney.
Ismael, who gained online notoriety for his provocative and often highly offensive videos, was banned by several social media companies after being accused by critics of harassing locals in various Asian countries, apparently to increase his online audience.
The live host has around five million followers on Instagram, TikTok and Rumble. reached out to all three platforms regarding Ismael’s content, but did not receive an immediate response.
Earlier this month, Ismael posted an apology online after being accused of desecrating a South Korean monument dedicated to women held in sexual slavery during World War II, sparking widespread outrage in the country.
In online posts, angry locals threatened retaliation against the streamer following the incident. transmitted images on affiliate JTBC showed Ismael being beaten while a group of people followed him. Separately, a man was arrested in Seoul last month for allegedly punching Ismael in the face, it was reported. Yonhap agency. Seoul Police declined to comment.
The public reaction in South Korea appears to reflect a broader frustration in the region with foreigners exploiting local customs to gain online fame, with Ishmael being an extreme example of bad behavior.
According to Japanese media reports, foreign content creators were recently accused of a series of transgressions in the country, from evading train fares until do push-ups at the doors of a sanctuary and perform “annoying dances” on Tokyo subway trains.
This coincides with a negative sentiment towards mass tourism among many Japanese, as the country experiences record visitor numbers and a rise in reports of tourists behaving badly.
Earlier this month, a 65-year-old American tourist was arrested in Tokyo for allegedly carving letters on a shrine door, just two months after a 61-year-old Austrian man was arrested for having sex on shrine grounds.
Ismael’s recent trip to Japan was also mired in controversy.
Last year, the streamer was arrested in Osaka on suspicion of trespassing at a construction site, according to Kyodo news agency. In addition, he generated outrage in Japan by publishing videos in which he provoked passengers about the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, while hurling insults.
John Lie, a sociology professor at the University of California, Berkeley, said Ismael serves as an example of the risks of ignoring cultural boundaries in an interconnected world.
Although he may have a deeper motive, the provocateur’s behavior appears to be designed primarily to attract attention in his “quest to become a social media celebrity,” Lie said.
“There is nothing significant except his provocative character: a common character in today’s social media landscape,” he added.
‘s Ava Ko contributed reporting.
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