First fame then arrest for Saudi teen who chatted up US girl
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — When a teenager in Saudi Arabia began chatting up an American woman online, he first found fame and then notoriety before he was arrested over concerns that his clumsy cyber flirtation violated the kingdom’s conservative norms.
The teenager, known only by his online name of ‘Abu Sin,’ a reference to his crooked teeth, speaks almost no English. Christina Crockett, a 21-year-old vlogger from California, speaks no Arabic.
Even so, they managed to create goofy, light-hearted videos in which they appear fascinated by one another. The spectacle of the two trying to communicate attracted millions of viewers both inside the kingdom and abroad. As a result, Abu Sin shot to fame on the livestreaming site YouNow, receiving nearly 6.5 million views of his videos.
In one of their most-watched videos from YouNow, Abu Sin tells Crockett: “I am Saudi Arabia.” Wearing a low-cut tank top, she smiles and responds with a flick of her blonde hair: “That’s cool, I’m America.”