Benjamin Glaze mugshot (left); and Benjamin Glaze on American Idol in 2018. Photo:
Tulsa Police Department; Mark Levine/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty
Benjamin Glaze, 26, was allegedly in possession of 700 images and videos of child sexual abuse material, per police
A former American Idol contestant who went viral after being kissed by Katy Perry on the show has been arrested on a charge of possession of child sex abuse material.
Benjamin Glaze, 26, was arrested on Friday, Oct. 18, following a months-long investigation, police in Tulsa, Okla., announced.
Tulsa police said in their Friday statement that the department was tipped off about Glaze’s alleged “criminal activity” in April of this year.
After executing a search warrant of his residence, investigators retrieved evidence that allegedly had child sex abuse materials, per the statement.
“During the search, a smartphone was recovered that was found to contain over 700 images and videos of child sexual abuse material,” Tulsa police said.
During the show’s audition, Glaze was kissed by Perry, who was a judge on the show, after he revealed he had never been kissed and said he could not kiss someone unless he was in a relationship with them. Perry then called him to her and, after the teen kissed her on the cheek, she proceeded to kiss him on the lips.
Glaze, then 19, later said he was “uncomfortable” with the kiss, because he wanted to save his first kiss for a “special” someone, according to an interview with The New York Times.
He later clarified that he did not consider it sexual harassment.
“I do not think I was sexually harassed by Katy Perry and I am thankful for the judges comments and critiques. I was uncomfortable in a sense of how I have never been kissed before and was not expecting it,” he wrote at the time on his Instagram account. As of the morning of Monday, Oct. 21, his account appeared to have been taken down.
Benjamin Glaze and Katy Perry on American Idol in 2018.Mark Levine/ABC
Glaze is being held at the Tulsa County Jail on a charge of aggravated possession of child sexual abuse material, per Tulsa police.
Online court information shows he has not retained an attorney and did not indicate if he has entered a plea.
If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse, text “STRENGTH” to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor.
