Johnny Somali (Ramsey Khalid Ismail) Overview

Ramsey Khalid Ismail, known online as “Johnny Somali“, is an American live-streamer born on September 26, 2000 in Phoenix, Arizona. His online presence is largely characterized by provocative and controversial behavior in various countries, which led to multiple platform bans and legal issues. This profile covers his early life, online activities, and controversies in several countries.

Early Life

According to Ismail, he was born to a Somali father and an Ethiopian mother. He claims to have grown up in Scottsdale, Arizona, and received a bachelor’s degree in finance from Arizona State University in May 2021. Despite his claims of being a child soldier, some sources express doubts about the veracity of this statement.

Online Career and Platform Bans

Ismail began streaming in May 2023, focusing on his trips to countries including Japan, Thailand, and Israel. Initially, he streamed on Twitch, but faced a ban due to his behavior, which included harassment and inflammatory comments. Subsequently, he moved to the streaming platform Kik, where he was banned in May 2024. He currently streams on Rumble, continuing his controversial online presence.

Controversies by region

Japan

Ismail’s behavior in Japan garnered a lot of criticism. He often taunted locals, made offensive comments about the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and once even threatened a nuclear attack on a Japanese train. He was confronted several times, including an incident with an American man, for which he claimed he was drunk and later apologized. His actions led to several attacks on him by locals and a ban from Twitch.

In June 2023, Ismail visited Tokyo Disney Resort and played a song containing the lyrics “atomic bomb”, which upset other guests. In August 2023, he and colleague Jeremiah Dwayne Branch trespassed at a hotel construction site, where Ismail mocked workers by chanting “Fukushima”. They were both arrested on suspicion of trespassing and later charged with conspiracy to obstruct business when they disrupted a restaurant by playing loud music.

Following these incidents, Ismail was fined ¥200,000 by an Osaka court and was later deported back to the United States. Although he stopped live-streaming in March 2024, he continued to engage in “Zoom trolling”, targeting Japanese-speaking users.

Israel

Ismail’s visit to Israel in March 2024 resulted in several clashes. In Tel Aviv, he was beaten up after becoming involved in a brawl with locals. While live-streaming at the Western Wall in Jerusalem, he pasted pictures of individuals including Harvey Weinstein onto the wall, making controversial comments about these celebrities. His actions led to him being given a 50-day ban from Jerusalem.

Ismail’s behavior escalated further when he sexually assaulted a female police officer during a protest in Tel Aviv and later claimed to have witnessed a mass shooting. His actions led to him being temporarily suspended from Kik and being physically attacked by locals who accused him of “informing”.

South Korea

In March 2024, Ishmael announced plans to visit South Korea and tweeted a threat to slap a member of the Korean pop group BTS. During his trip, he committed several provocative acts, including drawing obscene acts on statues honoring “comfort women” (sex slaves for Japanese soldiers during World War II). He also played obscene sounds and North Korean speech at a high volume on public transportation, causing him to be kicked off the bus.

On October 17, Ismail reportedly reacted with violence when he was stopped from drinking alcohol at a convenience store, and later, on October 26, he attacked a woman by throwing liquid on her and damaging her camera. Until November 2, 2024, he was barred from leaving South Korea due to an ongoing investigation into his recent actions.

Summary

Ramsey Khalid Ismail, or “Johnny Somali,” has become notorious for his provocative live-streaming style, which has led to public criticism and legal consequences. His actions have led to multiple bans on major platforms, legal charges in Japan and Israel, and a travel ban due to an ongoing investigation in South Korea.