TULSA, Okla., (The Oklahoma Post) – September 20th, 2025
Benjamin Glaze, a former American Idol contestant who once made national headlines after receiving an unsolicited on-air kiss from Katy Perry, has been sentenced to 25 years in prison following a guilty plea in Tulsa County District Court to aggravated possession of child sexual abuse material.
According to Tulsa Police, the investigation began in April 2024 when the department’s Sexual Predator and Digital Evidence Recovery (SPIDER) Unit received information regarding Glaze’s alleged activity online. Detectives executed a search warrant and seized a smartphone belonging to Glaze. Investigators later reported that the device contained more than 700 images and videos classified as child sexual abuse material.
Glaze was arrested in October 2024 and formally charged. On September 15, 2025, he pleaded guilty to aggravated possession. Judge Drummond sentenced him to 25 years, with 15 years to be served in custody and 10 years suspended. Under the court’s order, Glaze must also register as a sex offender.
From Viral Moment to Criminal Record
Glaze, now 26, first appeared on American Idol in 2018. During his audition, he told the judges he had never been kissed. Katy Perry then kissed him on stage, a moment that quickly went viral.
The incident prompted national debate about consent, celebrity influence, and gender expectations. Glaze later said the kiss made him uncomfortable because he had intended to save that experience for a future relationship, but clarified that he did not view Perry’s actions as harassment.
That pop-culture controversy stands in sharp contrast to the present criminal case. Court documents confirm that the 2025 conviction is wholly unrelated to the televised incident.
Background on Oklahoma Law
Oklahoma law distinguishes between simple and aggravated possession of child sexual abuse material. The “aggravated” charge applies when the number of files is significant, when particularly young victims are depicted, or when aggravating factors elevate the seriousness of the crime. Convictions can carry sentences of 10 to 30 years, and in some cases, life imprisonment.
Glaze’s case met the aggravated threshold due to the number of images and videos seized. The sentence of 25 years, with 15 years to be served and the remainder suspended, reflects both the gravity of the material and statutory guidance.
Rumors Addressed
In recent weeks, social media rumors have circulated suggesting Glaze was associated with Rhema Bible Training College in Broken Arrow. No credible evidence supports those claims. Neither local reporting nor church records have yet connected him to Rhema or identified him as holding a pastoral role.
Idol Alumni and the Criminal Courts
Glaze is not the only American Idol alum to face criminal charges after appearing on the program:
- Caleb Kennedy, a 2021 finalist, was sentenced to eight years in prison for a DUI crash that killed a man.
- Antonella Barba, a 2007 contestant, was convicted in federal court of drug distribution and sentenced to nearly four years.
- Corey Clark, disqualified from Season 2, faced misdemeanor convictions related to obstruction and battery.
- Laine Hardy, winner of Season 17, was arrested in 2022 for allegedly planting a listening device; the case remains unresolved.
These cases demonstrate that post-show notoriety does not insulate contestants from the criminal justice system. The sentencing of Benjamin Glaze marks a decisive end to speculation surrounding his arrest in 2024. What began as a police tip culminated in a guilty plea and a 25-year sentence that ensures years of incarceration, a decade of suspended supervision, and lifetime registration as a sex offender.
For a figure once known for an awkward moment on a reality television stage, the outcome now recorded in court files is far more serious and enduring.
Writing By: Kim Waxlar | Editing by Robbie Robertson
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