Benjamin Glaze, known for viral Katy Perry kiss, faces 25 years sentence for child porn possession 

American Idol contestant Benjamin Glaze has reportedly been sentenced to 25 years in prison for allegedly possessing child porn.

TMZ has reported that Glaze, who went viral for his kiss with Katy Perry during his audition, was arrested last year. At the time, Tulsa's Sexual Predator/Digital Evidence Recovery Unit received a tip that he had child pornography in his possession.

A Tulsa PD post on Facebook has since confirmed that the 26-year-old pleaded guilty on September 15 to his charges. He is now sentenced to 15 years served in custody and a decade suspended, in addition to being registered as a sex offender.

Benjamin Glaze's legal troubles explored:

KTUL reported last week that, upon reviewing Benjamin Glaze's phone, authorities discovered 700 images and videos of child pornography. Per KRMG Tulsa, they were acting on a tip from a mental health professional, who claimed he confessed to them that he had an addiction to the same.

Per USA Today, the professional was working for an emergency helpline, which Glaze had called for help with his suicidal thoughts at the time.

According to the outlet, an official report stated that he was accused of possessing "certain obscene, lewd, lascivious and indecent materials, to-wit: over 700 images and/or videos of child pornography on his Samsung Galaxy cellphone."

He was charged with aggravated possession of child sexual abuse material in October 2024 and was arrested with a warrant that same month, USA Today reported at the time. However, by the following week, he posted a $50,000 bond.

Benjamin Glaze made an appearance on the Season 16 premiere of "American Idol" in March 2018. At the time, he was just 19 years old and working as a cashier at an electronics store. He performed for Lionel Richie, Luke Bryan, and Katy Perry, who sat on the panel of judges.

After he delivered a live rendition of Nick Jonas' "Levels," he admitted that he had never had his first kiss, which is when Katy Perry volunteered herself.

"Benjamin, I really enjoyed meeting you today," Perry told him at the time. "You gave my heart a flutter. ... I think you're really sweet. Truthfully, there are some people that are just out-singing you right now. So, I don't think it'd be fair to put you in that kind of competition. Next time just take a little bit more time. I think you were a bit rushed, and maybe that was because I sped up your BPM of the heartbeat."

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