Benjamin Glaze, a contestant who gained widespread attention during his 2018 American Idol audition after being kissed by judge Katy Perry, was arrested Friday afternoon in Oklahoma on child pornography charges.
The 26-year-old was taken into custody by the Tulsa Police Department following a six-month investigation.
charges on Friday.Tulsa Police Department
According to a statement from the department’s Sexual Predator/Digital Evidence Recovery Unit, a search warrant was issued for Glaze’s residence.
During the search, officers seized a phone containing over 700 pieces of child sexual abuse material. Glaze was arrested the same day the warrant was executed.
Glaze first appeared on American Idol in 2018, where he performed the song “Levels” for judges Katy Perry, Lionel Richie, and Luke Bryan. During the audition, Glaze revealed he had never been in a relationship or kissed a girl, leading Perry to kiss him on the lips.
The moment quickly went viral and sparked online debate, with some accusing Perry of inappropriate behaviour while others, including fellow judge Luke Bryan, defended her actions.
“I watched an actual interview where Ben, the kid that was involved, said that he was cool with everything. I gotta back Katy on that,” Bryan said in a 2018 interview when asked about the incident.
Glaze later told The New York Times that while he didn’t view the kiss as harmful, he would have preferred for his first kiss to be a more personal and meaningful experience.
Glaze is now facing serious charges following the discovery of illegal material on his phone, marking a dramatic turn from the viral fame he once experienced.
