SEOUL: An American YouTuber has been sentenced to six months in prison by a Seoul court for causing outrage after filming himself disrespecting a statue commemorating Korean women forced into sexual slavery by Japanese occupying forces during World War II.
Johnny Somali, 25, whose real name is Ramsey Khalid Ismael, gained notoriety for provocative stunts streamed on platforms like YouTube and Twitch. South Korean authorities indicted him in 2024 on public order violations and obstruction of business.
The incident involved a video uploaded in October 2024, showing Somali kissing and twerking beside the "comfort women" memorial. The clip, which sparked strong public backlash, was later removed.
Somali apologized, stating he was unaware of the statue's significance. However, public sentiment remained unforgiving, with reports of him being chased and physically assaulted by offended South Koreans.
In 2023, Somali also caused consternation in Japan for taunting subway commuters about the atomic bombings of Nagasaki and Hiroshima.