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Who Is Johnny Somali And Why South Korea Is Trying To Jail Him? The Controversial YouTuber And His List Of Alleged Crimes Explained
Kick streamer Johnny Somali, real name Ramsey Khalid Ismael, known for his provocative and often controversial content, has just pled guilty to several charges in a South Korean court.
If convicted, the contentious streamer could face up to five years in prison and, with the additional charges, up to 10 years behind bars.
Somali's abusive antics have been widely shared on the internet since December 2022, going from late-night adventures, drinking and, more often than not, breaking some international laws across many Southeast Asian countries.
Despite frequent bans on streaming platforms, Johnny was committed to the "prank" streamer gimmick, putting himself in chaotic situations, which included being hunted down by South Koreans in October 2024.
Let's recap some details about Somali's career and how he became one of the most hated streamers in South Korea, Japan and the internet in general.
Who Is Johnny Somali?
Johnny Somali is a streamer and YouTuber who has made a name for himself through travel vlogs and controversial interactions with local residents in the countries he visits, most notably South and Southeast Asian countries like Japan, South Korea and Thailand.
Although his channel has been deleted on YouTube, Somali started his online career in December 2022 with a vlog compilation of his highlights from his Halloween in Scottsdale, Arizona.
How Did Johnny Somali Get Famous?
His travel experiences caught the internet's attention in September 2023 when Japanese police detained him for a number of offenses, which included trespassing at a hotel construction site in Osaka and shouting the names of Hiroshima and Nagasaki (two cities infamously struck by nuclear bombs in WW2) during a livestream.
Japanese police detain "Johnny Somali" for a number of offenses.His full name is Ismail Ramzi Khaled,& he is a 23-year-old American of Ethiopian heritage.We should be aware that people like "Ramzi" & others like him have use our name to smear our reputation all over the world! pic.twitter.com/uupf7JLruh
— Somalia (@kingofSomaliaa) September 22, 2023
The arrest didn't seem to bother Johnny, as, in fact, he used the situation to gain more followers and global attention, leaning into a "prankster" persona while causing distress and disrespecting locals while traveling across Asian countries.
The moment also marked the starting point of a series of detainments the streamer would face in the next few years in Japan and South Korea.
What Is Johnny Somali Being Charged With By The South Korean Government?
Following various disrespectful actions in South Korea, including groping a memorial statue representing "comfort women" – victims of wartime sexual slavery – he faced multiple charges, including obstruction of business, assault and drug use. Somali was banned from leaving the country in November 2024 until his trial was settled.
Moving forward to March 2025, Somali pleaded guilty to all the charges in Seoul Court, arriving an hour late for the hearing, citing a stomachache and wearing a red “"Make America Great Again":https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/make-america-great-again-maga” hat, the slogan of U.S. President Donald Trump.
According to The Express Tribune, the streamer was not aware of the additional obstruction charge, leading to a postponement of the next court hearing until April 9th.
How Did The Internet React To Johnny Somali's South Korea Trial?
Johnny Somali's highly controversial livestreaming behavior inspired netizens to nickname him the "most hated streamer," leading to a series of posts on X, Reddit and YouTube debating his actions, as well as memes celebrating his arrests of misfortunes or others reacting to the viral news.
For instance, YouTuber and Twitch streamer Asmongold uploaded a video about Somali's Seoul trial.
The X news page Dexerto posted the Smiling Buck Tooth Emoji meme alongside a picture of Somali, writing about the streamer's trial, which read, "He came in smiling… But the smile was cut quickly when the judge announced the charges."
For the full history of Johnny Somali, be sure to check out Know Your Meme's entry for even more information.
