Featured Image Credit: Tulsa Police Department/ABC
Topics: Crime, US News, Katy Perry, TV And Film, American Idol
Rhiannon Ingle
Topics: Crime, US News, Katy Perry, TV And Film, American Idol
The American Idol contestant who was kissed by Katy Perry in his audition has been arrested on child pornography charges.
Benjamin Glaze, 26, first auditioned on the ABC programme back in 2018 performing the song 'Levels' for Perry and the other judges; Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan.
However, he ended up going viral after revealing he'd never kissed a girl before, which prompted the 'Roar' singer to kiss the then-19-year-old on the lips.
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"I have never been in a relationship, and I can’t kiss a girl without being in a relationship," he said before Perry kissed him on American Idol at the time.
At the time, Glaze told The New York Times: "I was raised in a conservative family and I was uncomfortable immediately. I wanted my first kiss to be special."
He later wrote on Facebook, however, that he 'was not complaining about the kiss from Katy Perry at all' and was 'very honoured and thankful to have been a part of American Idol', adding: "I do wish I would have performed better in the moment," he wrote.
Now six years later and Glaze has been arrested after he was found to be in 'possession of child sexual abuse material', according to police.
The Tulsa Police Department shared the news last week (18 October) on its official Facebook page.
The statement, posted alongside a mugshot of Glaze, explained that in April, the Tulsa Police Sexual Predator/Digital Evidence Recovery Unit (Spider Unit) received information regarding the alleged criminal activity of Glaze.
"The report indicated that Mr. Glaze had possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM)," the statement continued.
"As part of the investigations, the Spider Unit obtained a search warrant for Glaze’s residence."
It was during the search that a smartphone was recovered that 'was found to contain over 700 images and videos of child sexual abuse material'.
The TPD statement carried on: "On 10/18/2024, an arrest warrant was issued for Benjamin Isaac Dewitt Glaze for Aggravated Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material.
"Glaze was located and arrested on the afternoon of 10/18/2024 by the Spider Unit and booked into the Tulsa County Jail for his warrant."
The statement ended, confirming that this was an arrest and not a conviction.
Tyla has contacted Tulsa Police Department for additional comment.
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence regarding the welfare of a child, contact the NSPCC on 0808 800 5000, 10am-8pm Monday to Friday. If you are a child seeking advice and support, call Childline for free on 0800 1111, 24/7.