### Former "American Idol" Contestant Benjamin Glaze Arrested on Child Abuse Material Charges

Benjamin Glaze, once known for his appearance on "American Idol" in 2018, has been arrested in Oklahoma for alleged possession of child sexual abuse material. The 26-year-old was apprehended after the Tulsa Police Department's Sexual Predator/Digital Evidence Recovery Unit, also known as the Spider Unit, received a tip-off regarding his activities.

According to a statement from the Tulsa Police Department, the investigation led to a search warrant for Glaze's residence in April 2024. During the search, authorities discovered a smartphone containing over 700 images and videos of child sexual abuse material. As a result, an arrest warrant was issued for Benjamin Isaac Dewitt Glaze on October 18, 2024, charging him with Aggravated Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material. He was arrested later that afternoon and taken to the Tulsa County Jail.

Glaze's brief brush with fame occurred in 2018 when he auditioned for "American Idol" in front of judges Katy Perry, Luke Bryan, and Lionel Richie. At 19 years old, Glaze shared that his job as a cashier exposed him to many "cute girls," prompting Bryan to reference Perry’s hit song by asking if he had "kissed a girl and liked it." Glaze admitted that he had never kissed a girl due to his conservative upbringing and desire for his first kiss to be special.

During the audition, Perry invited Glaze to kiss her on the cheek. Unhappy with the initial kiss, Perry asked for a second one but surprised Glaze by turning her head at the last moment, kissing him on the lips. Glaze later expressed discomfort with the incident, telling The New York Times that he would have declined if he had been asked directly.

At the time, fellow judge Luke Bryan defended Perry’s actions, describing them as an effort to create engaging television content. Glaze's recent arrest now places him in a vastly different spotlight, raising serious concerns about his conduct off the screen.