The video of alleged comedian William Banks breaking out of jail has gone viral
Following his conviction on five counts of sixth-degree larceny, William Banks, a 28-year-old US citizen serving an eight-month jail sentence in Connecticut for stealing five pro-Israel yard signs, escaped from prison and captured the entire breakout on X.
Who is William Banks as video of him breaking out of jail after being arrested for larceny and stealing Israel signs in Westport, Connecticut goes viral on Twitter/X and Reddit
The video of William Banks, a US citizen serving an eight-month jail sentence for stealing five pro-Israel yard signs, escaping custody has gone viral after he posted his breakout on X.
The incarceration of William Banks started on November 15, 2024, and he was scheduled to be released on July 15, 2025.
However, he recorded himself and a few other prisoners breaking out of prison early on Friday, February 21, 2025, and uploaded the video to the internet. The videos, which have gone viral, demonstrate how carefully the escape was planned.
The one thing keeping me going is that the William Banks jailbreak is actually real https://t.co/IHkcBJtbbm pic.twitter.com/4GgR6p1Ino
— ParaPower Mapping (@KlonnyPin_Gosch) February 21, 2025
On February 15, William Banks noticed a hole big enough to fit through the prison’s surrounding fencing and recorded it. He shared another video of himself and his cellmates exercising and training a few days later, calling their impending escape an “exodus.”
Inmates were supposed to meet Banks at the library at 03:00 SAST (20:00 CT on February 20), but for whatever reason, the breakout happened two hours earlier at around 01:00 SAST (19:00 CT on February 20). The last video that was uploaded prior to his abduction shows Banks running out of the prison with a number of other prisoners, celebrating their successful escape into the night.
Booooooooooooooooo https://t.co/1vGiqe9Nwp pic.twitter.com/q0qh2VXQMs
— ParaPower Mapping (@KlonnyPin_Gosch) February 21, 2025
Who is William Banks?
Actor and self-described journalist William Banks, 28, resides in Brooklyn, New York. He regularly shares content on Twitter, X, TikTok, and YouTube. As of late December 2024, he has just surpassed 17,200 followers on Twitter, making him the most followed person on the platform.
Banks appears to be an improv actor, if not a comedian. His YouTube page features a few of his live comedy videos.
JUST IN: 🇺🇸🇮🇱 William Banks, a US citizen serving an eight-month jail sentence for stealing five pro-Israel yard signs, escaped custody and posted his breakout on X.
— BRICS News (@BRICSinfo) February 21, 2025
In addition, William Banks claims to be a man of God. Over the past year, he has devoted himself to religion, and several of his posts from that period question atheism.
William Banks was taken into custody in Westport, Connecticut, in December on suspicion of larceny. According to local reports, he was stealing Zionist and pro-Israel signs in a neighbourhood. His court hearing was scheduled for March 2024, and he was freed on a $500 bond.
Banks is a strong supporter of Palestinian independence. His detention occurred during the period following the October 7th attacks that set off the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, which has gotten worse over time and has continued to generate controversy on the internet.