Infamous Streamer Johnny Somali Apologizes For Desecrating Comfort Women Memorial
The controversial streamer Johnny Somali has apologized to South Koreans in a new YouTube video.
Somali, whose real name is Ramsey Khalid Ismael, has quickly become a despised public personality in Korea after his multiple questionable shenanigans, including harassing Korean convenience store workers, public indecency, and vandalism. He was also assaulted by a Korean citizen for disrespecting the Statue of Peace at Itaewon.
A week ago, the streamer came under a police investigation and was barred from leaving the country until the case was closed. It was also reported that he could face 10 years in jail for alleged drug abuse.
Amid this tense situation, Somali issued an apology to the Korean people in a YouTube video. It was uploaded by a Korean vlogging channel called J Company on November 7, KST. In the video, Somali was approached by a group of Korean streamers and vloggers, who reassured his team that they just wanted to talk and didn’t intend to inflict any violence. After he got out of the car, the vloggers urged him to apologize to Koreans who were deeply offended by him kissing the Statue of Peace, a highly revered memorial dedicated to Korea’s comfort women.
The streamer agreed to apologize and claimed that he was unaware of the statue’s importance.
“I want to apologize to the Korean people. I was not aware of the significance of the statue. I was trying to get…just entertainment for my audience. We’re from America, we don’t know much about comfort women, much about the statue… I didn’t want to cause pain or get anybody in trouble.”
— Johnny Somali
He apologized again, standing in front of the Statue of Peace, as one of the men from his entourage guided him in conveying his words in Korean.
The Johnny Somali apology video to the people of korea and the comfort woman statue.
Johnny is on a diplomatic mission,
Korea loves ❤️ him now. pic.twitter.com/XOMuNd7lQ8— Old White Man (@OldWhiteMan85) November 7, 2024
But netizens are not convinced of his sincerity and have deemed the apology as “fake.” Many are suspicious that he did it to get an upper hand in the ongoing investigation against him.
Johnny Somali issues an apology to the South Korean people, claiming it was not his intention to hurt anyone.
Ironic, considering the fact he recently said he was being racist for "money" and "clout" pic.twitter.com/iNFZYkfkjd
— Ivan (@IvanSteff) November 7, 2024
Johnny Somali makes a fake apology to the South Korean people. Anybody with half a brain knows that this apology doesn't mean shit. He's lying. He's only doing it to save his skin. I hope Korea stands firm and makes #johnnysomali face the many laws he broke in Korea. Will they? pic.twitter.com/SfgLrCFefY
— johnnysosmally (@johnnysosmally) November 7, 2024
Dear South Korean Police, Do not fall for Johnny Somali "apology".
He will definitely do it again after a bribery apology. He was only sorry because he got caught. Plain and simple.
— TatsumuraRyuken (@TatsumuraRyuken) November 8, 2024
You can watch the full apology video here:
