A controversial American live-streamer is facing the prospect of prison in South Korea for his offensive antics, in a case that is shining a light on the rise of so-called “nuisance influencers” seeking clicks overseas.

Ramsey Khalid Ismael, 24, commonly known by his online alias, “Johnny Somali,” has been indicted of causing a “commotion” at a convenience store, Seoul prosecutors confirmed to CNN. If convicted he faces up to five years in prison.

A departure ban has also been placed on Ismael, preventing him from leaving the country while authorities continue their investigation, CNN affiliate MBC News reported.

CNN has reached out to Ismael for comment. It is unclear if he has an attorney.

  • the_crotch@sh.itjust.works
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    16 days ago

    The live-streamer has a combined following in the low five figures across Instagram, TikTok and Rumble.

    So he’s nobody. Why is CNN even writing about this?

    • Stopthatgirl7@lemmy.worldOP
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      16 days ago

      Because dude has been a nuisance in three damn countries now. I live in Osaka, and so many of us foreigners here completely hate that effer because he’s making us look bad. He was all over the news here because of the way he was acting.

    • thefartographer@lemm.ee
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      16 days ago

      Nobody is nobody. A story like this raises awareness. Both lets people know that one of our own (rightfully) got himself detained in South Korea and tells people to stop being shitheads for likes. Unless you’re running for president, then they’ll give you free publicity!

      • the_crotch@sh.itjust.works
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        16 days ago

        I mean, this also sounds like free publicity. The kind that would turn this nobody into a celebrity. After all, we’re talking about him.

        • boyi@lemmy.sdf.org
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          16 days ago

          This has been covered previously by some sites but it doesn’t put much weight on the issue. But when the mainstream media start to cover a story like this, we knows that it’s no longer small talks: My previous take.

        • Chozo@fedia.io
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          16 days ago

          He’s already a celebrity, though. Just because you didn’t know of him doesn’t change that. Tens of thousands of followers is a lot of people.

          • the_crotch@sh.itjust.works
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            16 days ago

            The article said low five figures across 3 different platforms, I took that as the same 3500 or so people follow him everywhere

    • futatorius@lemm.ee
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      16 days ago

      He’s a nobody regardless of his number of followers. I hope the South Koreans do the right thing, and if there’s anything left of him afterwards, no need to send it back here.

    • orcrist@lemm.ee
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      15 days ago

      The problem is not that he has relatively low followers. The problem is the actions that he does spread beyond his fan base. He’s doing bad things to people, he’s making Americans in those countries look bad, and now maybe he will face justice.