Don’t kiss me, Kate
American Idol treats Perry’s flirting as a joke, but not everyone is amused
On a recent episode of American Idol, an 18-year-old singer named Jonny Brenns auditioned with an original song called Blue Jeans. Judges Lionel Richie, Luke Bryan and Katy Perry were impressed. Especially Perry.
“You got a face like Chet Baker. Very good-looking,” Perry said approvingly to the contestant. “... It’s kind of like this sweet little sexy thing that you’ve got going on,” she told Brenns. “Eighteen-year-old girls would eat this up! If a 32-yearold cougar would eat it up ...” Perry trailed off.
The scene was presented in good fun, and the show promoted Brenns’ audition as an American Idol showmance. But how will the pop star’s behaviour play out in a culture that is now hyperaware of power dynamics in Hollywood?
Perry, who has since turned 33, briefly caused an internet storm after the première of the costly revival that now airs on ABC, during a scene that seemed out of place in the #MeToo era.
In the episode, 19-year-old contestant Benjamin Glaze told the judges he had never kissed a girl before. Perry motioned for him to give her a peck on the cheek — only to turn her face at the last second and kiss him on the lips.
Glaze toppled over in surprise as Bryan and Richie howled with laughter and gave Perry high-fives. Glaze, later told The New York Times he was a “tad bit uncomfortable” because he wanted to save his first kiss for his first relationship.
Though Idol heavily promoted that moment, some viewers weren’t amused — pointing out that the same situation between a 30-something male judge and 19-year-old female contestant would not have been played for laughs. An ABC spokesperson declined to comment, and Perry’s publicist did not return a request for comment.
Glaze took to Instagram to clarify that “I do not think I was sexually harassed by Katy Perry and I am thankful for the judges’ comments and critiques.”
He also reiterated to Entertainment Tonight: “I was only uncomfortable because it was just my first kiss. I’m not upset about it, I’m glad that it happened.”
On the second night of Idol’s two-part debut, the show featured an audition with 27-year-old construction worker Trevor Holmes, who admitted Perry was his celebrity crush. The feeling became mutual when Holmes appeared in front of the judges. Bryan labelled him a “dreamboat” while Perry went with, “You’re so hot.”
Perry could barely keep it together as Holmes crooned a love song, and the camera zoomed in on her dreamy expression. When Holmes landed a ticket to Hollywood, things devolved into chaos as his girlfriend ran into the room, which sent Perry literally bolting in the opposite direction. Again, it was showcased as a highlight of the show.
“One of the best moments (of Idol) so far is that so-called love triangle involving Katy Perry, a handsome contestant named Trevor and Trevor’s girlfriend named Sierra,” Michael Strahan gushed on Good Morning America before interviewing the goodnatured couple. Sierra said, “We had so much fun, and Katy and I hugged and we laughed about it. I even told her we could share him.”
Idol producers and the network seem excited to treat Perry ’s shtick as a joke. Same with the contestants — but then, do they really have a choice? That gets into the power dynamics issue that the entertainment industry has been forced to confront over the past several months. As a result, it can become more uncomfortable to watch auditions such as the one starring 26-year-old William Casanova.
Although he and Perry had an entertaining rapport, he had to retrieve his ticket to Hollywood from between Perry’s toes after she found out he was a shoe salesman.
In an essay for Slate, Christina Cauterucci wrote: “Of course, Perry’s flirtation isn’t truly sexual at all. It remains in the realm of PG-rated jest — this is family television, after all.” Still, she said of Glaze’s audition, “The scene feels even more lewd and exploitative post-#MeToo than it would have last March. ABC’s decision to treat it as a playful, feel-good moment — and use it to advertise the show — is bafflingly obtuse.”