Katy Perry’s controversial ‘American Idol’ kiss defended by fellow judge
Perry was criticised for kissing a teenage boy during his audition.
American Idol judge Luke Bryan has defended Katy Perry’s controversial kiss with a contestant on the reality show.
Perry, 33, came under fire last week when she kissed 19-year-old contestant Benjamin Glaze during his audition after he confessed to never having kissed a girl.
Now country singer Bryan, who was sat algonside Lionel Richie by cheering Perry on during the incident, has leapt to his fellow judge’s defence.
Speaking on The Morning Show, Bryan claimed Perry was just making “fun” television, saying: “It’s unfortunate that stuff like this turns into a story that big. I’ve got to back Katy on that. She’s in there working hard and making fun TV.
“We are going to get it right sometimes and get it wrong sometimes. We’re in there critiquing people. I may say something one day that everybody’s not going to like. That’s just what you signed up for.”
He added: “At the end of the day, me and Lionel and Katy and Ryan, our hearts are in the right place.”
Following his kiss with Katy Perry aired in the US, the now 20-year-old Glaze described the encounter as “uncomfortable”, before clarifying his statement in an Instagram post in which he insisted he didn’t feel “sexually harassed” by the singer.
Watch what happened when @larryemdur caught up with @lukebryanonline backstage at #CMCRocks! #TMS7 pic.twitter.com/daUK670JW8
— The Morning Show (@morningshowon7) March 19, 2018
He wrote: “I do not think I was sexually harassed by Katy Perry and I am thankful for the judges’ comments and critiques. I was uncomfortable in a sense of how I have never been kissed before and was not expecting it.”
Meanwhile, Perry’s antics on Idol saw her back in the healdines again this week after she threw some expert shade towards former friend and rival Taylor Swift during the show.