Benjamin Glaze, whose American Idol audition went viral when judge Katy Perry kissed him on the lips, has been arrested on possession of child p*rnography charges in Oklahoma.
Videos by American Songwriter
Police arrested Glaze, 26, on Oct. 18, according to a Facebook post from the Tulsa Police Department. He was booked into the Tulsa County jail the same day. Online records did not reflect him as an inmate Tuesday (Oct. 22) evening.
Per the post, the Tulsa Police Sexual Predator/Digital Evidence Recovery Unit began investigating Glaze in April 2024 after learning he was in possession of child s*xual abuse material.
After securing a search warrant for Glaze’s home, police found a smartphone containing more than 700 images and videos of child p*rnography. Authorities have charged the former American Idol contestant with aggravated possession of child s*xual abuse material.
The Facebook post also included a photo of Glaze, who appears to be wearing a Walmart uniform shirt.
If convicted, the former American Idol hopeful could face life in prison and a $10,000 fine.
Katy Perry Kissed Benjamin Glaze on ‘American Idol’
Benjamin Glaze was 19 when he tried his hand on American Idol in front of judges Luke Bryan, Katy Perry, and Lionel Richie. While he didn’t make it to Hollywood, he did go viral when Perry planted an unexpected kiss on his lips.
Before auditioning, Glaze told the judges that his job as a cashier allowed him to meet “cute girls.” This prompted Bryan to jokingly ask if the then 19-year-old had “kissed a girl and liked it—” a reference to Perry’s 2008 breakout hit.
Glaze admitted he hadn’t. “I have never been in a relationship and I can’t kiss a girl without being in a relationship,” he said.
The “Teenage Dream” singer then encouraged the Idol hopeful to give her a peck on the cheek. As Glaze leaned in to oblige, Perry turned her head at the last second to kiss him on the lips.
“Katy!” he exclaimed, collapsing to the floor. “You didn’t!”
And that was the end of Glaze’s American Idol journey, although not his time in the spotlight. The Oklahoman later told The New York Times that while he did not consider Perry’s actions sexual harassment, he was “uncomfortable immediately.”
“I know a lot of guys would be like, ‘Heck yeah!’ But for me, I was raised in a conservative family and I was uncomfortable immediately,” Glaze said. “I wanted my first kiss to be special.”
Featured image via X/Twitter
Leave a Reply
Only members can comment. Become a member. Already a member? Log in.