Benjamin Glaze, the former American Idol contestant who went viral after being kissed by Katy Perry during his audition, has been sentenced to prison following his 2024 arrest for possession of child pornography.
According to the Tulsa Police Department, Glaze pleaded guilty on September 15 and was handed a 25-year sentence. He will serve 15 years in custody, while the remaining 10 years are suspended. He is also required to register as a sex offender.
Benjamin Glaze was first arrested in 2024 after Tulsa’s Sexual Predator/Digital Evidence Recovery Unit received a tip about his possession of child sexual abuse material. A search warrant led to the discovery of more than 700 images and videos of minors on his smartphone.
The 26-year-old was charged with aggravated possession of child pornography and booked into the Tulsa County Jail before being released on a $50,000 bond.
Benjamin Glaze initially gained public attention in 2018 during Season 16 of American Idol, when at 19 he admitted to judges Katy Perry, Luke Bryan, and Lionel Richie that he had never kissed a girl. Perry then kissed him unexpectedly, a controversial moment that sparked widespread criticism.
Although he later clarified that he did not believe Perry had sexually assaulted him, Glaze admitted the incident made him uncomfortable at the time.
Now, his public image has taken an even darker turn with his conviction and lengthy prison sentence, overshadowing his once-viral moment on the reality show.
