Katy Perry wants to quit American Idol over ‘nasty’ portrayal

After a string of controversies, Katy Perry reportedly wants to step down as American Idol judge because she feels misrepresented by the show.

Katy Perry on American Idol.

US singer Katy Perry reportedly wants to step down as a judge on American Idol because she feels misrepresented by the talent show.

The Daily Mail reports that the 38-year-old pop star believes she has been repeatedly “thrown under the bus by producers” who she feels have edited the show to make her appear to be the “nasty judge”.

Perry, who has been part of the show for the last six seasons, has been criticised multiple times in the last few months for comments she has made to contestants, Page Six reports.

An emotional Katy Perry on American Idol.

She was first accused of “mum-shaming” Sara Beth Liebe after joking that the 25-year-old mother-of-three had been “laying on the table too much”.

Liebe slammed Perry’s “hurtful” quip in a TikTok video after her audition aired in March, adding, “I think that it’s hard enough to be a mum and it’s hard enough to be a woman.”

Then, in April, Perry was booed by the audience when she bashed contestant Nutsa Buzaladze’s outfit choice.

“Nutsa, every time you take the stage it’s like you glitter bomb the stage,” she said. “Listen, one thing that I would like to see from you is not one piece of glitter the next time. I know that is going to be hard.”

Fellow judges Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan were shocked by the audience’s reaction.

“Katy got booed!” Bryan exclaimed.

Katy has been a judge on the show for six seasons. Picture: ABC

“First time in six seasons,” Perry responded. “What I’m saying is that I’d like you to flip the script. I think we want to be pulled in by our hearts, too. I’d love to see that and America might too.”

The singer found herself in hot water again in the same month when she was accused of being disrespectful towards one singer following the elimination of her favourite contestant, Elijah McCormick.

Page Six exclusively reported that Perry has been nonplussed by the criticism coming her way.

“Katy isn’t fazed by the backlash,” a source said. “This has been a rollercoaster season with a lot of great talent, so she is just doing her job.”

Hobnobbing with royalty on a recent episode of the show.

The insider explained that the pop star “has a unique sense of humour that may not always translate well on camera, but she never has any ill intent” while judging the singing competition.

“She’s a mentor and a friend to the contestants,” our source stressed.

Perry and fellow judge Richie took a short break this month from the competition series as both performed at King Charles III’s coronation concert in London.

A rep for Perry did not reply for comment.

This article originally appeared on Page Six and is republished here with permission

Originally published as Katy Perry wants to quit American Idol over ‘nasty’ portrayal