In a recent alarming incident, a 48-year-old man named Michael Branham has been arrested following allegations of threatening to bomb the Saturday Night Live (SNL) studios located at 30 Rockefeller Center in New York City. The suspect’s history includes previous accusations of stalking actress Scarlett Johansson, as confirmed by the NYPD.
The troubling events began when Branham reportedly sent a threatening message to a college official in Connecticut, which raised serious concerns and prompted the authorities to take action. Law enforcement sources have indicated that after thorough evaluation, the threat itself was deemed not credible.
On April 2, Branham was apprehended and was charged with one count each of making threats of mass harm and falsely reporting an incident. During his arraignment, he entered a plea of not guilty and was granted bail, set at $100,000 cash or $300,000 in bond. In addition, an order of protection was established against him.
Details of the Alleged Bomb Threat
Reported by NBC News on April 4, Branham’s bomb threat was allegedly communicated via text to the university administrator in Connecticut. The content of the message included:
“THE NEXT TIME YOU HERE FROM ME I WILL BE ON CNN FOR EXPLODING A BOMB IN SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE AUDIENCE.”
The administrators promptly reported the threat to law enforcement, which led to Branham’s swift arrest by the NYPD the following day. The authorities confirmed that the report of a bomb threat was received at approximately 7 a.m. on April 1, prompting a thorough investigation that culminated in Branham’s charges.
Connection to Scarlett Johansson and Stalking Allegations
Interestingly, Branham’s full name and age correlate with the individual that Scarlett Johansson previously accused of stalking her. Documents filed in California revealed that Johansson had sought a restraining order against him, although it was ultimately denied due to a technicality.
A representative for Johansson has chosen not to comment on the recent developments concerning Branham’s arrest. Notably, Johansson is married to Colin Jost, a cast member and staff writer for Saturday Night Live and has been subject to persistent online harassment attributed to an individual using Branham’s name.
Defense’s Position on the Threat
Branham’s attorney, Jamie Niskanen-Singer, argued before the court during the arraignment that there were substantial doubts about the credibility of the evidence against him. Niskanen-Singer highlighted that Branham might have been the victim of internet scams perpetrated by impersonators claiming to be Johansson and raised concerns over the possibility of his personal information being compromised.
“He has given out information. He may have been hacked, your honor. It’s very possible here that there is someone that is setting him up,”
This viewpoint reflects an alternative narrative, suggesting that Branham may be innocent and potentially framed due to his online exposure. As of now, no additional commentary has been provided by Branham’s legal team. In response to the incident, a spokesperson for NBCUniversal, the parent company of both NBC News and Saturday Night Live, has declined to provide any public commentary.