Is Katy about to lose it all?
She’s chillaxing on hols, but her TV future is in doubt
Riding boats, wading in the sea, sightseeing: Katy Perry looked like she was having the time of her life on holiday in Italy last week. But maybe she wouldn’t have been quite as carefree if she knew that back in the US, her new job on the judging panel of American Idol – and her $25m paycheck – is under threat.
“Some of the senior managers at [American Idol’s TV channel] ABC were weirded out by Katy’s recent live-streaming stunt. They’re worried she’s not funny enough and there’s a real fear she may miss the mark when it comes to appealing to a TV audience,” a US television insider tells heat.
They’re referring to Katy’s 96hour Big Brother-style stunt to promote her new album, in which she was filmed 24/7, undergoing therapy sessions and making a series of emotional (and raunchy) confessions about her mental health, drinking and sex life. “There’s a backlash against Katy right now – her new album hasn’t been the massive hit everyone expected – and ABC are really worried. They’re pouring millions into rebooting Idol and they may have already made the biggest mistake of all. Her job is at risk.”
Also throwing a spanner in the works is Katy’s non-stop schedule. “Because she’s travelling to play shows, producers are not being given the time to test the other potential judges opposite Katy, so they’re going to have to hire people and hope that it works out – and that can be risky. They’re going to have to take a huge gamble and pray the judges they choose will have chemistry with Katy.” Lionel Richie and Motley Crue guitarist Nikki Sixx are reportedly in the running to join her on the panel, but for less money than Katy, 32, who recently boasted, “I’m really proud that, as a woman, I got paid. I got paid more than any guy that’s ever been on the show.”
Our insider continues, “If there’s any chance of making things work with Katy, the producers have to make sure she’s composed and comes across as a genuine pro when the show is on the air.”
The insider also adds, “With the stakes so high, they’re quietly auditioning writers for Katy to make her as witty as possible. They’re planning on doing a number of totally live episodes to crank up fan and social media involvement – something they thought Katy could handle. But after her watching her live stream, ABC are concerned they may have bitten off more than they can chew. Everyone’s worried that Katy just doesn’t realise what a big commitment this job is.”
Enjoy that holiday, Katy. Sounds like you’ve got a lot of work to do when you get home…