- Season 16 of ABC's rebooted "American Idol" has been receiving mixed reactions from viewers, mainly due to judge Katy Perry's actions.
- Many people are slamming Perry for flirting and kissing male contestants like Benjamin Glaze and Trevor Holmes, saying that if fellow judges Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan tried to do the same thing, they would be criticized and accused of sexual harassment.
- Others found Perry's flirting "funny," and Perry joked about the moments in some of her tweets.
"American Idol" has received mixed responses from viewers, with many people finding Katy Perry's actions entertaining, and others saying she is being distasteful in light of sexual harassment and the "Me Too" movement.
During the season 16 premiere of the TV show, Perry sparked discussion in regards to sexual harassment and consent when she unexpectedly kissed a male contestant on the lips.
She initially asked the contestant, Benjamin Glaze, to kiss her on the cheek and quickly turned her head to kiss him on the lips. Viewers found the moment"inappropriate" and argued that if the roles were reversed and fellow judges Lionel Richie, Luke Bryan, or even former judge Simon Cowell tried to do the same thing, people would be outraged.
Katy Perry just tricked a male contestant to kissing her in the cheek, she turned and kissed him on the lips.
— #Dizz © (@TalkMMA) March 12, 2018
Can you imagine if Simon Cowell had done that? #AmericanIdol
Katy kissing him was sexual harassment. You should never take what is not willingly given. Kind of ashamed of that moment.
— Tori (@Tori29995134) March 12, 2018
I turn on the tv and the first thing I see is Katy Perry kissing a contestant on the lips on american idol. His first kiss no less. Whoa imagine if that was reversed. An outrage that would have been. Not cool Katy. pic.twitter.com/eydqdHhcXK
— Rea Araneta (@littlemissrea) March 12, 2018
Imagine a famous male pop star tricked a 19 year old female contestant into kissing him on TV?? He’d be made to apologise, probably lose his job and be labelled as trash.
— J from D.A (@JDaBuddah) March 13, 2018
This is not ok. The hypocrisy, every time.... Don’t @ me
https://t.co/fQhFuwcR0w
#AmericanIdol Katy Perry stole that boy's first kiss. How dare she assume that was OK? He was waiting for a special relationship. If roles were reversed it would be intolerable. Luke or Lionel trick kissing a 19 year old girl?? Hmmm.
— Kay Kruse (@kaykruse) March 12, 2018
As someone who has had male friends who’ve been sexually assaulted by women, I see absolutely everything wrong with Katy Perry kissing that guy on the lips without his consent.
— Love, Ashley (Lost in Pages) 🌙 (@FictionalAshley) March 13, 2018
If it were a young girl and one of the male judges, we wouldn’t stand for it. https://t.co/o5YEtnlrrQ
Am I the only one that does not believe that Katy should have kissed that young man! If it was Lionel or Luke kissing a young girl it would have been wrong.
— Marilyn Booth (@malbooth1) March 13, 2018
@AmericanIdol Do you really think it's okay to air Katy Perry kissing a contestant without his consent? The message you're sending to young fans is that it's cute and funny, and that consent isn't required. If a male judge did that he would be fired. Really disappointed in you.
— Ashley Maxwell (@ashletic10) March 13, 2018
Perry didn't seem to find anything wrong with kissing Glaze, as seen in her tweets.
💋#BenjaminGlaze#AmericanIdolpic.twitter.com/0XbA18LmRr
— KATY PERRY (@katyperry) March 12, 2018
Why pick one 💁🏼♂️ https://t.co/IZJnP9EiUF
— KATY PERRY (@katyperry) March 12, 2018
Perry was once again under fire after Monday night's episode aired and she flirted with a contestant.
During the episode, Perry made a comment about not being in a relationship.
"I'm single but I'm not alone" - @katyperry💟 Queen! #AmericanIdol
— Tricia Gonzales (@triciapickles) March 13, 2018
But Bryan may have jokingly voiced what viewers were feeling about Perry's manner toward male contestants: "Let's call it what it is, Katy is looking for a date. She is using this as eharmony."
At another part of the episode, a contestant named Trevor Holmes walked into the audition room and Bryan declared him a "dreamboat." Perry agreed, saying that her "eyes lit up," and she interrupted Holmes to tell him that she thought he was "so hot."
She added that "only hot guys are named Trevor." When Holmes called Perry "ma'am" because he respects her, she told him: "Don't respect me."
She said that if Holmes didn't make it to the Hollywood round, he could just hang out with her. In addition, Perry asked Holmes if he was engaged, and he said he wasn't. But he had a girlfriend.
During his audition, Holmes included Perry's first name in the lyrics and she was speechless after his performance.
Holmes added that Perry had been his longtime crush. All the while, Bryan and Richie proceeded to give him constructive feedback and put him through to the next round of the competition.
Afterwards, Holmes' girlfriend entered the room, congratulated him, and kissed him as Perry jokingly ran away.
People criticized Perry for being flirtatious with attractive contestants, and called the show "sexist."
@BMS_Derek@BMS_Billy american idol was exremely sexist last night. Katy perry literally had a big o everytime a goodlooking guy auditioned, imagine if luke bryan had done that to every hot girl. #DoubleStandards
— rickybobby (@SchloemerZ) March 13, 2018
Sure, Trevor is definitely a handsome guy but that was a little over the top flirting...made me a little uncomfortable. How did Trevor even manage to sing? And I felt a little bad for his girlfriend. #americanidol🤦♀️
— aimee doherty (@crimsonrum) March 13, 2018
Can Katy perry stop flirting with the teenage boys auditioning for American idol. It's honestly just gross 🙄
— Jelissa (@jpowww333) March 13, 2018
@katyperry stop flirting with EVERYONE
— alyssa (@perryxjauregui) March 13, 2018
Awww. It's so cute the way Katy Perry fawned over multiple male #AmericanIdol contestants.
— Steve from Philly (@SteveFromPhilly) March 13, 2018
Even #GMA loves it!
I wonder how everyone would react if Luke Bryan asked a female contestant to "come hang out" with him if she didn't get a #goldenticket?#OffWithHisHead
In light of the metoo movement-4 her 2 do this is disgusting-as well as the unwanted kiss she gave another contestant & she isn't young-ma'am is correct!
— Renee (@LivinMyBst) March 13, 2018
I have so many issues with @katyperry's reaction to Trevor's audition in American Idol. Having hots for a contestant is something else. But explicitly becoming a flirt storm when you're in a position of power? That's kinda low.
— Bee (@jotsyjoey) March 13, 2018
So we’re ok with Katy Perry flirting with this guy. But if it were a guy flirting with a girl minds would be lost. #AmericanIdolhttps://t.co/goGyvG83MK
— Anastasia (@Stasia_M) March 13, 2018
Others found Perry to be "funny," and like this season's judging panel.
Katy on American Idol is actually fun to watch. I have yet to judge Lionel and Luke. LOL.
— Karl Rex Villaruel (@karlosaurus_rex) March 13, 2018
Seeing Katy Perry flirting with the contestant is so funny 😂
— Amin (@Amienhakimin) March 13, 2018
Katy Perry flirting with this hot guy from American Idol is my fav video of the day! Her expressions are just too cuteeeehttps://t.co/2kJejDIRCH
— Jess (@Jess6367) March 13, 2018
@katyperry flirting with Trevor on #Americanidol is the cutest thing! 😂 And yes she is also correct that Ariana has one of the best voices in the industry today
— Ari is bae ♡ (@AriEverdayFoeva) March 13, 2018
One of the funniest things I’ve seen on AI; run, Katy, run! Lovin the auditions so far...hope the season continues to impress.
— Baylor Mom (@madalycat123) March 13, 2018
I'm loving the vibe of Lionel Richie, Katy Perry and Luke Bryan on @AmericanIdol so far
— Kyle (@PATSandJAYS) March 13, 2018
Katy on American Idol is actually fun to watch. I have yet to judge Lionel and Luke. LOL.
— Karl Rex Villaruel (@karlosaurus_rex) March 13, 2018
Perry even referred to the recent episode as the "dreamboat episode."
Time for episode 2 of #AmericanIdol aka the 💞😍DREAMBOAT😍💞episode! Let’s play a drinking (water) game: Every time a contestant sweeps me off my feet, take a sip 😉 #americanidol
— KATY PERRY (@katyperry) March 12, 2018
Others just want the show to focus more on the music, since it's a singing competition.
So not a fan of the flirting and judges throwing the "I love you" around so much. I hope it gets more real
— Torri Haney (@TTH7) March 13, 2018
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