It Was Time for Katy Perry to Quit ‘American Idol’

It’s no secret that a lot has happened since Katy Perry left American Idol. She went from being one of the most-critiqued judges on the judging panel, to returning to pop stardom and being extremely public with her new boyfriend, Justin Trudeau.

American Idol Fans Begged for Katy Perry to Be Removed from Panel

Perry was one of the most criticised judges on the panel of American Idol. The singer’s unpleasant behavior on the singing reality series first rose eyebrows in season 21. Many fans slammed her (at the time) for being “dismissive” and “rude” to contestants.

Fans’ disappointment truly began when Perry allegedly bullied 25-year-old mother Sara Beth Liebe during her audition. Due to Perry’s comments, Liebe decided to not continue, as she desired to focus on motherhood.

When Perry attempted to stop Liebe from walking away, she received backlash for her alleged “mom-shaming comment.” She was further criticized later on due to her behavior with other contestants.

In other instances, Perry was booed by the American Idol crowd after her advice to Nutsa Buzaladze. According to Perry, she wanted to see “not one piece of glitter the next time.”

Then, Perry allegedly had a reaction to Wé Ani making it to the Top 20 of the season. At the time, Perry’s acknowledgement of Ani’s progress came across as “dismissive.”

“Wé, oh my god, I’m just so shook right now. First of all, shook by the results, and I’m also shook by that song is so dramatic, there’s so much drama going through my body right now I need a nap,” she said in the moment.

The criticism of Perry truly didn’t end there. It got to the point where fans would often blast the American Idol Reddit page, complaining about the pop singer’s inclusion in the series.

“Katy Perry manages to make every contestant about Katy Perry. I stopped watching for this reason,” one user wrote on Reddit.

“When she gives feedback she does it in a dramatic, performative way that takes attention off the contestant. I just wish she would dial it back and be more real,” another person replied.

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She Left The Series in 2024

American Idol fans were thrilled to hear about Perry’s departure from the judging panel in May 2024. She has since been replaced by former contestant Carrie Underwood, who fans also have critiqued. Following Perry’s departure, she made it clear that she would not be tuning into the series in 2025, admitting the experience was “suffocating.”

Since leaving the series, Perry has released multiple new songs, went on a tour, and even started a new relationship. The pop singer is now in a relationship with former Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau. It’s rumored that the couple is considering kids in the near future.

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