Katy Perry Slammed For Tricking ‘American Idol’ Contestants Into Thinking They’re Going Home: “Psychological Warfare”

By Samantha Nungesser @samjnungesser
Published April 10, 2023, 12:49 p.m. ET

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Katy Perry keeps finding herself in hot water with American Idol fans. After being accused of “mom-shaming” Sarah Beth Liebe, who ultimately backed out of the singing competition show, the “Hot N Cold” singer is being slammed for tricking other contestants into thinking they’re being sent home.

The controversial moments came during Sunday night’s (April 9) episode of the long-running show, when Perry made it seem as though several teary-eyed contestants weren’t making it into the Top 24, only to tell them that they would, in fact, be advancing to the next round.

“We have really appreciated you being in this competition. Thank you for everything you brought — and we did not put you in the Top 24,” Perry told 25-year-old Nutsa Buzaladze. “You put yourself in that Top 24. Nutsa, you put yourself in that Top 24 with your spectacular talent.”

She pulled the same tomfoolery on 19-year-old Zachariah Smith when she said, “You may not go home to flip burgers. But you will be going home … to pack a new bag to come back to the Top 24!”

Even Michael Williams, 21, fell victim to Perry’s jokes. She told him, “The challenging thing about love is when you love something, you have to let it go. We have to let you go … into the Top 24.”

Meanwhile, fans of the show have taken to Twitter to blast the “Roar” singer for her “cruel” deceits.

“Turned on American Idol for shits and giggles tonight. Why does Katy Perry commit psychological warfare every time she delivers the you made it through news?” one wrote.

Another added, “Talk about punching down. She’s such a mean girl. Why do they have her on this show?”

“Is it just me or does it bug anyone else that Katy Perry keeps trolling people about whether they made it to the top 24 or not?” a third person said. “I feel it’s cruel to make them think they aren’t going through….. and then say, Yeah, you made it!”

Someone else wrote, “Katy Perry tries way too hard. Like get to the point girl,” while another noted, “I’m so uncomfortable when she does that. I can just see theirs hearts jump out of their chests!!”

American Idol airs on Sunday nights at 8/7c on ABC.