Katy Perry has been accused of being a “mean girl” and “bullying” American Idol contestant Sara Beth Liebe during a recent episode.
During the hit ABC reality TV talent competition on Sunday, fans said the 38-year-old “American Idol” judge was rude to the 25-year-old mother of three after Liebe’s revealed her singing expertise was basically the “church choir,” the New York Post reported.
“Is this your dream?” Perry asked the contestant, who appeared rattled and simply replied, “Um.”
“If it’s not your dream, you might need to leave because there’s a lot of dreams behind you,” Perry added.
Liebe admitted she was “still processing” being away from her kids before she finally started with her first song, “You Know I’m No Good” by Amy Winehouse.
ABC viewers hit out at American Idol judge Katy Perry following her behaviour when contestant Sara Beth entered the studio https://t.co/gxWFvRePyC
— Daily Express (@Daily_Express) March 6, 2023
However, Perry seemed unimpressed and prodded her, “Come on, we need more. That’s not enough. Try ‘Bennie and the Jets.'”
“Show us what your voice can do,” she added. “Take it to the limit. No looking back. Sing it like it’s your new dream. More of that! Hold it out.”
The singer then named Liebe the “Accidental American Idol.”
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“Look, if it’s not your dream, it’s not gonna go far because I also respect everyone that’s walking through that door who will lay down their life for this golden ticket [to Hollywood],” Perry explained.
Perry and fellow judge Luke Bryan ultimately did vote for the mom to move on to the next round, while Lionel Richie had to go “with his gut” and didn’t.
Fans were not impressed with Katy’s comments to the 25-year-old singing hopeful and took to Twitter to express their displeasure.
“Katy. Come back down to reality,” one account posted.
“Katy Perry being a mean girl to Sara Beth,” another user added.
While another asked, “Why was Katy bullying that girl?”
One account tweeted, “Boo to Katy Perry for mom shaming Sara Beth. Insinuating that she has been ‘laying on the table too much’ to have 3 kids by age 25. A young mother following a dream while raising her children should be raised up not put down. #AmericanIdol.”
“I just wish Katy wouldn’t have been so nasty to her,” another added. “She was rude and kept on and on about it until Sara left! She is a little too much at times.”
Another account accused Perry of having “some major attitude.”
The “American Idol” judge previously faced a “#MeToo” accusation after she kissed 19-year-old contestant Benjamin Glaze on the mouth. Glaze said he had been saving that for his “first relationship.”
“I was a tad bit uncomfortable,” Glaze, who had never been kissed before, shared. “I wanted to save it for my first relationship. I wanted it to be special.”
Related: Gwyneth Paltrow Warns Katy Perry That Kids Can Be Difficult On A Marriage; Perry Pushes Back
