A South Korean court sentenced American YouTuber Ismael Ramsey Khalid to six months in prison on Wednesday for public nuisance and other criminal charges.
Khalid, known online as Johnny Somali, faced charges in Seoul following a November 2024 incident where he filmed himself kissing and performing lap dances on a statue representing World War II sex slaves.
According to bbc.com, the 25-year-old has been barred from leaving South Korea since the incident came to light.
On Wednesday, the court convicted Khalid of multiple offenses, including the distribution of sexual deepfakes.
"The defendant repeatedly committed crimes against unspecified members of the public to generate profit via YouTube and distributed the content in disregard of Korean law," the court stated, as reported by South Korean media.
Prosecutors originally sought a three-year prison term. However, judges handed down the shorter sentence, noting an "absence of severe harm to victims," according to The Korea Herald.
A history of provocations
Khalid's legal troubles in South Korea follow a pattern of disruptive behavior across Asia. The outlet reported that he has also faced accusations of harassment during travels in Japan and Israel.
In 2023, Khalid was fined 200,000 yen ($1,400) in Japan for playing loud music and disrupting a restaurant. He also drew backlash for making comments regarding the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
During his time in South Korea, Khalid engaged in several public disturbances, including vandalizing a convenience store and streaming obscene videos in public spaces. He also challenged local residents to physical altercations, resulting in several videos showing him being chased and punched in the streets.
Earlier in 2024, Khalid was detained at a protest in Tel Aviv, Israel, for making inappropriate remarks toward a female police officer.
While Khalid apologized in November 2024, claiming he "didn't understand the significance of the statue," many viewers expressed skepticism regarding his sincerity.
Upon his release, the court has prohibited Khalid from working with organizations that serve people with disabilities or minors.
