A 48-year-old man, Michael Branham, was arrested on Tuesday after allegedly sending a threat to bomb the “Saturday Night Live” (SNL) studios in New York.
The threat, which was made through a message to a Connecticut college, was reported to authorities by a college administrator.
According to New York Police Department (NYPD) officials, Branham was apprehended and charged with falsely reporting an incident and making a threat of mass harm.
He appeared in court on Thursday, pleading not guilty to the charges. Bail was set at $100,000.
Despite the alarming nature of the threat, law enforcement sources indicated that it was not considered credible. However, the situation raised concerns due to Branham’s past.
Court documents reveal that Branham’s name matches that of a man previously accused by actress Scarlett Johansson of stalking.
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In those earlier filings, Johansson sought a restraining order against Branham, though the request was denied by a judge over a technical issue.
Further investigation into Branham’s social media activity revealed a series of posts focused on Johansson, who is married to SNL’s Weekend Update host, Colin Jost. These posts raise additional questions regarding Branham’s intent and motivations.
While the case continues to develop, the incident has once again spotlighted the serious issue of online threats and harassment, especially towards high-profile individuals. Authorities are working to understand the full scope of Branham’s actions and his potential connection to any prior threats.
The SNL studios in New York, known for their high-profile productions, were not evacuated as the threat was assessed and deemed non-credible.
