Johnny Somali
Johnny Somali | |
---|---|
Personal information | |
Born | Ramsey Khalid Ismael September 26, 2000 |
Nationality | American |
Website | johnnysomalilive |
YouTube information | |
Channel | |
Subscribers | 13.8 thousand[1] (April 7, 2024) |
Total views | 4.8 million[1] (April 7, 2024) |
Website | youtube |
Kick information | |
Channel | |
Years active | 2023–present |
Followers | 13 thousand |
Last updated: April 7, 2024 |
Ramsey Khalid Ismael (born September 26, 2000), popularly known by his alias Johnny Somali, is a Ethiopian American[2] live-streamer.[3]
Early life
Ismael was born in America, his father being of the Ethiopian Oromo ethnicity, and his mother being part of the Yemeni ethnic group.[4][5][6] Ismael claims to have been a Somali child soldier, though these claims have no backing .[7]He grew up in Scottsdale, Arizona and graduated from Arizona State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance in May 2021.[8]
Career
On YouTube, Kick, and other video-streaming platforms, Ismael mostly streams himself as a tourist traveling in different countries, in particular Japan, Thailand, and Israel.[9] He began streaming in May 2023, after getting banned off Twitch, he moved to Kick before receiving temporary suspensions from Kick.[10]
Controversies
During his travels to Japan, Ismael made anti-Japanese taunts towards the Japanese people living there,[11][12] which include comments about the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki[13][14] and threats of bombing Japan with nuclear weapons while he was on a train.[15] Several times after these comments, he was assaulted and called racial slurs by some locals who recognized him in public.[16][17]
In June 2023, Ismael went to the Tokyo Disney Resort and played music with lyrics containing the phrase "atomic bomb" and recorded guests' reactions without their permission.[18]
In August 2023, Ismael, who was masked, and Jeremiah Dwane Branch, who was recording for him went into a hotel construction site in Osaka, where he then yelled "Fukushima" at the construction workers. After the construction workers kicked them out, they were both arrested on suspicion of trespassing.[19][20][21] In September they were arrested on the suspicion of conspiracy of obstruction of business.[22][23]
On December 19, 2023, Ismael, who had been in custody since his second arrest, appeared at the Osaka District Court of the charge of conspiracy of obstruction of business.[24] The charge of trespassing on a construction site was dropped. Prosecutors requested a fine of ¥200,000.[25] A verdict was reached on January 10, 2024, and Ismael voluntarily returned to the United States.[26] In March 2024, Ismael stopped doing IRL Streaming and instead opted for "Zoom trolling", mostly targeting Zoom calls involving Japanese people.[27]
On March 25, 2024, Ismael went to Tel Aviv, Israel, where he becamed involved in altercations with local Arab and Jewish people there. He was then confronted and beaten.[28][29] As a result of his IRL stream, Ismael was suspended from Kick due to inciting and promoting violent behavior.[30]
On April 7, 2024, Ismael was reportedly attacked and detained at a protest in Tel Aviv, Israel for disrespecting a female police officer. After his release 16 minutes later, Ismael went live again on the same day and claimed to have witnessed a mass shooting at a restaurant.[31]
See also
Notes
References
- ^ a b "About @JohnnySomali". YouTube.
- ^ Johnny Somali debunking he is Somali and that he is Ethiopian | https://www.tiktok.com/@imanalitv/video/7241219787928456494?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7186599059587040770
- ^ Bhattacharya, Richik (2023-10-05). "After Johnny Somali's arrest, Japanese government official warned streamers and YouTubers who create "nuisance" for content". Sportskeeda. Retrieved 2023-10-18.
- ^ "Johnny Somali claims Ethiopian born in America". Reddit. 2013-04-01. Retrieved 2023-12-06.
- ^ "Waa kuma Johnny Somali, ninka ay ka qeyliyeen madaxda Japan?". BBC News Somali (in Somali). 2023-06-21. Retrieved 2023-12-27.
- ^ Johnny Somali debunking he is Somali and that he is Ethiopian | https://www.tiktok.com/@imanalitv/video/7241219787928456494?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7186599059587040770
- ^ Self-proclaimed former child soldier | https://coconuts.co/bali/news/who-is-johnny-somali-and-why-are-people-in-bali-concerned-about-his-arrival
- ^ [@RabbiSomali (2024-04-08). "I am being slandered" (Tweet) – via Twitter.]
- ^ Braw, Elisabeth (2023-09-28). "Attention-Seekers and Autocrats Are a Combustible Mix". Foreign Policy. Retrieved 2023-10-19.
- ^ Bhattacharya, Richik (2023-09-11). "Johnny Somali gets knocked out on stream, and Kick account gets banned a day after pestering Twitch streamer Meowko". Sportskeeda. Retrieved 2023-10-27.
- ^ Mukherjee, Shreyan (2023-06-13). "Who is Johnny Somali? Controversial Kick streamer assaulted on livestream after allegedly harassing people in Japan". Sportskeeda. Retrieved 2023-10-19.
- ^ Nishimura, Karyn (2023-09-27). "Le Japon, terrain de jeu des « streamers nuisibles »". Le Point (in French). ISSN 0242-6005. Retrieved 2023-10-19.
- ^ Glaze, Virginia (2023-10-13). "Johnny Somali arrested again for unauthorized Kick stream in restaurant". Dexerto. Retrieved 2023-10-18.
- ^ Hernon, Matthew (2023-09-29). "'Johnny Somali' Arrested for Trespassing". Tokyo Weekender. Retrieved 2023-10-19.
- ^ "US influencer's arrest in Japan shows lengths people go to be 'famous'". South China Morning Post. 2023-09-27. Retrieved 2023-10-18.
- ^ "Inflammatory Kick streamer attacked again by fed-up Japanese local". Dexerto. 12 June 2023. Retrieved 2023-10-18.
- ^ "美直播主日本狂喊「再炸廣島」!事後遭路人巴頭襲擊 網譏:他應得的" [American live broadcaster in Japan yelled "Bomb Hiroshima again"! Afterwards, he was attacked by a passerby named Badou. Netizens ridiculed him: "He deserved it"]. FTV News (in Chinese). 2023-06-02. Retrieved 2023-10-19.
- ^ Dammann, Luke (2023-06-30). "Streamer Goes on Racist Tirade at Disney, Ignores Park Rules". Inside the Magic. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
- ^ "Controversial U.S. livestreamer arrested over trespassing in Osaka". The Japan Times. 2023-09-22. Retrieved 2023-10-18.
- ^ "U.S. livestreamer 'Johnny Somali' accused of trespassing". The Asahi Shimbun. Retrieved 2023-10-18.
- ^ McCurry, Justin (2023-10-25). "Japan investigates foreign YouTubers accused of dodging train fares and stealing food". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-10-27.
- ^ "迷惑系「ジョニー・ソマリ」容疑者を再逮捕、牛丼店で大音量の音楽 本人は黙秘" [Johnny Somali suspect arrested again, loud music played at beef bowl restaurant, suspect kept silent]. Sankei Shimbun (in Japanese). 2023-10-12. Retrieved 2023-10-19.
- ^ "US livestreamer served new arrest warrant for hindering business at Osaka eatery". Mainichi Daily News. 2023-10-13. Retrieved 2023-10-19.
- ^ "Japanese prosecutors demand fine for controversial American YouTuber". The Japan Times. 2023-12-21. ISSN 0447-5763. OCLC 21225620. Retrieved 2023-12-21.
- ^ Dodgson, Lindsay (2023-12-21). "Japanese prosecutors have demanded a controversial streamer pays a fine after he played music in a restaurant". Business Insider. OCLC 1076392313. Retrieved 2024-03-08.
- ^ "Kick streamer Johnny Somali vows to stop streaming as Japan court seeks ¥200K fine". Dexerto.
- ^ Mukherjee, Shreyan (2024-03-07). ""Hiroshima, Nagasaki!" - Controversial streamer Johnny Somali disrupts ongoing Zoom call to seemingly harass Japanese people". Sportskeeda. Retrieved 2024-03-08.
- ^ Shrivastava, Aarnesh (2024-03-26). ""You are nobody" - Destiny goes off at Johnny Somali after controversial streamer calls him "unprofessional"". Sportskeeda. Retrieved 2024-03-27.
- ^ "American live streamer Johnny Somali, previously jailed in Japan and deported, tries to culturally enrich Israel by harassing Arabs and Jews. He finds out quickly what happens". Portal Kombat. 2024-03-27. Retrieved 2024-03-27.
- ^ "Kick bans Johnny Somali for "promoting violent behavior"". Dexerto. 2024-03-20. Retrieved 2024-04-02.
- ^ "Controversial Kick streamer Johnny Somali reportedly arrested after making contentious remarks towards Israeli female police officer". Dexerto. 2024-04-07. Retrieved 2024-04-07.