Katy Perry made a surprising announcement on Jimmy Kimmel Live that she has decided to quit American Idol after seven seasons as a judge. This news comes after insiders previously revealed that she felt mistreated by producers and constantly portrayed as the “nasty judge” through purposeful editing. The 39-year-old pop star had been contemplating her departure since last year and took the opportunity during her appearance on the late-night talk show to share the news. She was there to promote the upcoming 22nd season of American Idol, set to premiere on Sunday. Jimmy Kimmel inquired about her future plans on the show, alongside fellow judges Lionel Richie, 74, and Luke Bryan, 47.
During an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live, Katy Perry made a surprising announcement that she is leaving American Idol. This decision comes after insiders previously shared with DailyMail.com that she felt mistreated by the show’s producers. When Jimmy asked if she would continue with the show, Katy responded by revealing her plans to perform at the Rock In Rio music festival in Brazil in September. She expressed her excitement for this opportunity and mentioned that it would probably be her last season on Idol. Despite her love for the show and the connection it has given her with the American audience, Katy explained that she needs to explore her own rhythm and feel the pulse of Rio. When Jimmy asked about her co-judges, Luke and Lionel, Katy said they would find out about her decision during tonight’s episode.
In a delightful snapshot captured during the 21st season of American Idol on ABC, Katy Perry is seen alongside Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan in May 2023. Their jovial presence adds a delightful touch to the picture, encapsulating the charm and camaraderie shared amongst the talented trio on this popular reality TV show.
“I believe this may very well be my final performance, my last season on Idol. Honestly, my love for Idol runs so deep,” expressed Katy, aged 39.
While chatting, Jimmy, who is 56 years old, inquired about the duration of her intention to continue serving as a judge alongside Lionel, aged 74, and Luke, aged 47.
“Do you catch the rhythm I’m vibing to, Jimmy?” Katy grinned, divulging that the forthcoming season of American Idol would mark her final stint.
In 2018, Lionel, Katy, and Luke were captured together during the dazzling season 16 of American Idol.
“Did they truly have no clue?” Jimmy inquired.
“Well, they are aware that I have some big things in store for this year,” Katy responded.
“Wow, wow. How astounding!” Jimmy exclaimed, clearly taken aback.
“This year is going to be incredibly thrilling, Jimmy,” Katy remarked.
Later, Jimmy inquired if she had a plan in place for someone to replace her as a judge.
“Let’s just say I’m making room for my new endeavors,” Katy hinted.
“They will definitely miss you on that show,” Jimmy remarked.
“I love them immensely,” Katy admitted.
“Perhaps a little too much considering you didn’t inform them,” Jimmy teased.
“Exactly,” Katy agreed.
“Whoa, whoa. Can you believe that?” exclaimed Jimmy, clearly taken aback.
Katy flaunted her enviable physique in a stunning cutout black dress by Aya Muse during her guest appearance on the popular talk show Jimmy Kimmel Live.
The popular singer proudly displayed her toned stomach in the outfit.
“You mentioned this before. It seems like you love me more than them,” Jimmy exclaimed.
“No, they know, they can tell,” Katy responded. “They understand that I’ve been spending a lot of time in the studio. So they can sense that something is different.”
“So this will be your farewell season,” Jimmy inquired.
“I believe so, yes,” Katy confirmed.
She pointed out that this would be their seventh season, just like former judges Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul, and Randy Jackson had done.
“Oh, so you don’t want to overshadow them or something?” Jimmy teased.
“No, I absolutely adore the show. But I have a strong desire to explore the world and create new music,” Katy explained.
“Yeah, go see the world and make some new music,” Jimmy encouraged.
“Perhaps one day, if they’ll have me back, I’ll return,” Katy revealed.
During the television interview, Katy, who is also a footwear designer and recently attended an event with her partner Orlando Bloom, excitedly disclosed the big news by showing off her well-toned abdomen in a sexy outfit.
The long-sleeved attire accentuated her curves and featured a subtle side slit that hinted at one of her long legs.
She wore a form-fitting ensemble with long sleeves, perfectly accentuating her body curves. The outfit also featured a discreet side opening, adding a hint of allure to her already stunning figure.
Ryan Seacrest was photographed with Lionel, Katy, and Luke during the exciting season 21 finale in May 2023. Katy Perry’s outfit featured revealing cutouts adorned with small butterfly-shaped hardware accents in silver. The talented artist, who has a three-year-old daughter named Daisy with her fiance, completed her look with elegant open-toe black heels. Tatiana Waterford, the stylist, did an exceptional job in putting together Perry’s show-stopping ensemble. To complement the overall presentation, the California Gurls singer opted for an edgy updo, showcasing her sleek raven hair. The hairstyle was adorned with mini bangs that framed her face delicately. Katheryn Hudson, known by her stage name Katy, added dangling geometric earrings with a silver-toned finish to enhance her attire. Celebrity makeup artist Michael Anthony expertly applied flawless makeup to Perry’s face, highlighting her signature big blue eyes with moody metallic gray eyeshadow and long, fluttery lashes. Anthony even hinted at a potential farewell season of IDOL in an Instagram post about Perry on Monday night.
The dress was embellished with dainty silver hardware in the shape of butterflies, perfectly highlighting its revealing cutouts.
Katy, whose birth name is Katheryn Hudson, gracefully wore stylish earrings with a striking silver-tone and a modern geometric design.
Celebrity makeup artist Michael Anthony skillfully applied flawless makeup to Katy Perry’s face. In an Instagram caption, he hinted at a farewell season of American Idol. Perry also utilized her Instagram platform to drop hints about her upcoming career moves. She shared three snapshots of her appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live, along with a caption that teased her bombshell news. Addressing her massive following of 206 million, she played a game of “two truths and a lie,” mentioning her victory over Usher in Monopoly Deal, her headline performance at Rock in Rio in September, and the possibility of this being her last season on American Idol. Perry encouraged her fans to tune into Jimmy Kimmel Live for more details. The post garnered over 123,000 likes from her fans, and Demi Lovato commented on the adorable second slide of the pictures. This particular image featured Perry cozily wrapped in a fluffy white blanket, revealing only her head.
The singer also utilized her Instagram platform to hint at her upcoming professional endeavors.
She decided to give her followers a glimpse of her appearance on the Jimmy Kimmel Live show by sharing three photos on social media. With a playful tone, she dropped hints about some exciting news in the caption accompanying the snapshots.
Captivating her massive army of 206 million followers, Katy shared on her preferred social media platform, “How about we have some fun with a little game of two truths and a lie? Here we go: 1. I totally crushed @usher in a thrilling game of Monopoly Deal. 2. Brace yourselves, because I have the immense honor of headlining Rock in Rio this September. 3. Believe it or not, this upcoming season will mark my grand finale on @americanidol.”
Katy Perry became a part of the revamped version of American Idol in 2018 when the show moved to ABC from its original network, Fox. Throughout the past season, she found herself entangled in a series of controversies and scandals. In a June 2023 article, DailyMail.com reported that sources claimed Katy had reached her breaking point due to the backlash she received from viewers. The tipping point was when she was booed for offering constructive criticism to the contestants.
While Katy has faced criticism in the past, this particular season, season 21, was exceptionally tough for her. She was embroiled in a mom-shaming scandal that ultimately led one singer on the show to quit. According to the insider, Katy felt betrayed by the show’s producers, as she believed her controversial comments could have been edited or removed entirely.
Learning about the harsh criticism and experiencing being booed deeply upset Katy. She had entered the show with the intention of nurturing young talent, but her good intentions were misconstrued. Instead of being seen as a successful artist, Katy felt like she was now perceived as a harsh reality show judge, which was not what she had wanted. The insider revealed that Katy had been wanting to leave the show for some time now, but the challenges she faced during this season were simply overwhelming for her.
One notable controversy from season 16 involved Katy kissing 19-year-old contestant Benjamin Glaze, who had written his own song titled “Stadium.” This incident garnered significant backlash directed towards Katy.
During the sixteenth season of American Idol, Katy Perry faced backlash for kissing the nineteen-year-old contestant Benjamin Glaze on the lips. Benjamin, who had never been kissed before, expressed his discomfort, as he wanted his first kiss to be special and saved for a meaningful relationship.
In the twenty-first season, Katy was accused of “mom-shaming” twenty-five-year-old Sara Beth Liebe. Sara performed Amy Winehouse’s “You Know I’m No Good,” but Katy interrupted her, demanding more from her performance. Sara finished singing, but Katy insisted she sing “Bennie and the Jets,” claiming that Sara had nothing to lose. Katy urged Sara to showcase her voice and treat it like her new dream.
Sara tried to incorporate Katy’s advice into her second song, but Katy continued to shout demands at her. Katy exclaimed, “More of that! Hold it out,” and playfully referred to Sara as the “Accidental American Idol.” However, Sara shocked the judges when she revealed that she had three children at home. Katy pretended to faint in response, jokingly telling Sara that she had laid on the table too much.
Sara found Katy’s comments hurtful and discouraged others from participating in “mom shaming.” She emphasized the importance of women supporting and uplifting each other and expressed her disapproval of mom shaming.
In a later episode, after performing “Roxanne” by The Police, Sara announced that it would be her last performance on the show because her heart was at home with her children. This drew criticism from fans, who felt that Katy had mistreated Sara.
Furthermore, Katy was accused of causing “psychological warfare” against two struggling singers, Carina and Nutsa. She initially told Nutsa that she was going home when the top 26 contestants were announced. However, Katy later admitted that she was not serious and advanced Nutsa to the next round. Carina, on the other hand, was eliminated. In a subsequent episode, Katy faced boos from the audience when she suggested that Nutsa should change her wardrobe.
Despite the backlash she received for her behavior, Katy defended herself and claimed that it was the first time in six seasons that she had been booed by the audience.
