Popstar and American Idol judge Katy Perry is considering leaving the programme due to backlash from viewers, according to reports. The singer has been part of the talent show, alongside fellow judges Luke Bryan, and Lionel Richie, since she joined back in 2018.
However, the 38-year-old has faced criticism on social media from viewers over comments she made to contestants during the latest series, which ended on Sunday (May 21). One remark she made to hopeful Sara Beth Liebe, 25, attracted backlash and triggered a 'mum shaming scandal', the Mirror reports.
She also landed in hot water with fans of the show over feedback she gave to contestant Nutsa Buzaladze on two occasions. It has now been alleged that the singer-songwriter wants to quit due to concerns she'll appear like a 'nasty judge', and not wanting her participation on the show to 'define' her career.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, a source claims Katy wants to leave over fears of being "thrown under the bus by producers", who might have edited clips to make her 'look bad'. The source said: "Katy feels like [the producers] threw her under the bus. She feels like her comments could have been removed." They didn't specify which comments, though.
The source said that she became aware of the "harsh criticism" she had received, adding: "Getting booed really upset her." They ,claim she had been trying to "do her job". Despite various achievements in her career, the source also says she is now being considered a "nasty reality show judge".
Last month, boos were heard coming from the audience as the I Kissed A Girl musician questioned Nutsa's repeated use of glitter in her performance on stage. "One thing I personally would like to see from you is not one piece of glitter the next time," the song-writer said.
During a separate occasion, Katy was called out by viewers for critic she gave Nutsa and fellow contestant Carina DeAngelo as they sung together earlier in the series. She described their performance as "underwhelming" and that their "energy was broken".
There has also been calls for the artist to be replaced following her 'mum shaming' comment to mum-of-three Sara Beth. During the episode, Katy got up from the judging panel as Sara Beth said: "If Katy lays on the table, I think I'm going to pass out".
Katy replied: "Honey, you been laying on the table too much", seemingly in reference to Sara Beth having three kids.
On Twitter, Kevinryanmedia vented: "I'm not normally an American Idol guy, but I just saw the clip from @sarabethliebe, the mother of three who Katy Perry said had 'spent too much time on her back', to her face. @Katyperry needs to get dumped from American Idol. That blatant disrespect should NEVER be allowed."
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Mariaisabel1077 put: "Idk, reacting the way she did after learning she has 3 kids at 25 can be hurtful to a young mother. also saying “Honey, you've been laying on the table too much," to a young mother is hurtful. Would she have said that if this woman was 35 with 3 kids? Probably not."
Bqrbje added: "Love Katy, but she shouldn't have said that." However, Katysnuggle argued: "Y’all are so sensitive over a joke plsssss."
As previously reported, she said in a TikTok video: "[Katy] made a joke that wasn't super kind. [...] It was embarrassing to have that on TV. And it was hurtful and, you know, that's that."
Sara Beth – who later quit the show, reportedly citing that she wanted to be with her children at home – added that "mom-shaming is super lame" and promoted "uplifting other women". The former contestant, as reported by the Daily Mail, however later commented amid the controversy that she is "not even mad" in a subsequent post on social media.
