JOHNNY SOMALI, a popular and controversial livestreamer, may be facing up to ten years of jail time following his antics in South Korea. 

Also known as Ramsey Khalid Ismael, he is known for doing provocative acts in his life. He first started streaming on Twitch in 2023 but was banned from the platform, and then moved to Kick, but was then banned there as well. 

He has since been known to do crazy things in the places he visits, such as Israel, Japan, and now, South Korea. 

At present, he is apologizing to Koreans for mocking a statue made to memorialize the comfort women during Japan’s wartime, otherwise known as the “Statue of Peace”. 

In a video he uploaded, he was seen kissing the statue, as well as dancing in front of it in the Yongsan District in central Seoul reports Korea JoongAng Daily.

In his apology, he explained that he was unaware of the significance of the statue and that his actions were only for entertainment for people in America who did not know much about comfort women and about said statue.

“I just want to apologize for what I have done, and my behavior did not mean to hurt Koreans’ pride this much,” he stated.

“I am a young person who wants to grow as a man. When people make mistakes in life, they should own up to it. I will no longer talk about or touch the statue again.”

He hoped that his actions would serve as a learning situation regarding the statue, and also discussed the difference in comedy culture between the United States and South Korea. He stated that he did not want to cause pain or get anyone in trouble.

“Hopefully, we can move past this and have a better future,” he added.

“I’m sincere. I mean it. For a whole country’s pride to be hurt, it’s not a big thing for me to say I’m sorry.”

Many are skeptical of this apology, however, noting that he has made apologies that seemed somewhat fake in the past, as well. 

It can also be noted that this apology follows after news has come to light that the streamer is currently in the midst of a police investigation following charges of obstructing business last October 31st.

Here, he was said to have been interfering with service at a convenience store, disrespecting both the customers and the staff of the shop.

Before this, he was also kicked off of the subway by police after playing loud, inappropriate noises during his broadcasts, reports Dexerto.

Dexerto also reports that he is currently facing charges for narcotics use, which has a maximum penalty of ten years in jail. He is currently banned from leaving the country while still under investigation.

This is not mistake. pic.twitter.com/QhPdWWuVqv

— Clover Lavender (@AyoolaMatthee) November 8, 2024

Not his first time

Last year, in 2023, Somali also faced criminal charges in Japan after he was accused of loudly playing music in a restaurant and bothering customers. He was accused of obstructing business and apologized for his actions, stating that he would never take videos again.

He also denied playing the music on purpose, instead saying that his phone started playing it automatically.

As per the South China Morning Post, this was his second time getting arrested in Japan, following him being charged with trespassing after he broke into a construction site. He was also heard yelling “Fukushima” at workers.

In a separate incident, he would also shout phrases like “Hiroshima” and “Nagasaki” toward Japanese citizens.

He then went on to say that he lied to the judge and prosecutor in court, wherein he told the judge and prosecutor that he was not making any money from his videos.

Aside from this, earlier in 2024, he was also arrested in Israel after harassing a female police officer, calling her a “bad b*tch” and then saying he would take her to dinner and change her life.

Where do we draw the line? 

Somali is only one streamer known to harass the citizens of the countries they visit; the South China Morning Post, for example, cites YouTuber Fidias Panayiotou after he filmed himself riding on the public transport system of Japan without paying.

In 2017, YouTuber Logan Paul also received criticism after he posted a video of Japan’s Aokigahara Forest, including a clip of a man who had committed suicide.

YouTuber Pewdiepie, otherwise known as Felix Kjellberg, has spoken up on this, saying that “it has become an infestation.”

“All these YouTubers are coming, trying to be as obnoxious as possible, get a bunch of attention, get a bunch of hate clicks,” he stated.

“It is frustrating because, for a lot of people, Japan is an escape from this bad behavior that’s done in public a lot of times. Japan is seen as more polite, and therefore, people want to protect that.”

Many streamers have grown famous due to committing controversial acts in public, and people have started to question the boundaries concerning content like this, asking: “Where exactly do we draw the line?”