Turkish influencer with 4M followers arrested over illegal ads

Social media influencer and DJ Kerimcan Durmaz was arrested for his alleged involvement in promoting illegal gambling through advertisements during a performance in Malta.

The arrest is part of a wide-ranging investigation led by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office into illegal gambling promotions involving celebrities and influencers.

Authorities claim the Turkish influencer violated laws regulating betting on sports events and games of chance. Durmaz denies these allegations, asserting that he had no prior knowledge of the advertisements shown during his performance and did not participate in any illegal activities.

Kerimcan Durmaz claims gambling ads appeared without his knowledge

Durmaz testified that the advertisements were displayed on LED screens during his DJ set but insisted he was unaware of their presence at the time.

“When I performed on stage, gambling advertisements ran on the LED screens behind me. I only discovered this after my performance, through videos shared on social media,” he said.

Durmaz stated that he took precautions to avoid associating himself with gambling. “I made sure that any visuals I shared on my social media accounts did not include these advertisements. I did not advertise gambling on my profiles,” he added.

Durmaz explained that he was hired to perform solely as a DJ at the Malta venue. “My manager handled the arrangements, and I had no knowledge of any gambling-related activities. If I had known, I would not have agreed to perform,” he said. He also confirmed earning $10,000 for the performance, submitting an invoice to the court as evidence.

Prosecutors cite evidence of social media posts, advertisements during event

Prosecutors alleged that the gambling advertisements were shared on social media on Jan. 2 and Jan. 4. They also pointed to the presence of these ads during the final 20 minutes of Durmaz’s performance, which was initially displayed with his logo on the LED screens.

The court ruled to detain Durmaz on the grounds of a possible flight risk and the seriousness of the allegations. His lawyer, Muge Dogan, stated: “He has never engaged in gambling or its promotion. The advertisements were displayed without his knowledge or consent. We will appeal this decision and are confident justice will prevail.”

Actor Atakan Yilmaz was also arrested as part of the same investigation. Authorities accuse him of promoting illegal gambling in a similar manner. Like Durmaz, Yilmaz denies any wrongdoing and claims he had no knowledge of illegal activities linked to his work.

Who is Turkish influencer Kerimcan Durmaz?

Kerimcan Durmaz, born on Nov. 2, 1994, in Istanbul‘s Yenikoy neighborhood, initially gained attention through videos on Periscope and Snapchat in 2015.

He later transitioned to a career as a DJ and became a judge on the seventh season of the TV show “This Is My Style” (Iste Benim Stilim). In addition to his work in entertainment, Durmaz launched a cosmetics brand and released a song in 2020 that generated significant controversy.

Despite his success, Durmaz has faced legal and public scrutiny on multiple occasions. His recent arrest has sparked widespread public interest, with supporters and critics awaiting further developments in the case.

Durmaz and Yilmaz remain in custody as the investigation into illegal gambling promotions continues.