“American Idol” followers are scrutinizing Katy Perry, 38, for the way she treated contestant Sara Beth Liebe, a happy-go-lucky 25-year-old mom of three, on Sunday’s episode of the singing competitors singing.
The red-headed, quirky California native overtly admitted that she’s not a lot of a musician besides in her church choir and on karaoke nights.
Perry, who made an off-color comment about being such a younger three-time mother, loudly interjected, “Is that this your dream?”
“Um,” the seemingly already nervous Liebe muttered.
“If it’s not your dream, you may want to depart as a result of there’s plenty of desires behind you,” Perry mentioned.
A flustered Liebe revealed that she was “nonetheless processing” being away from her children to face in entrance of Perry, in addition to fellow judges Lionel Richie, 73, and Luke Bryan, 46, because the “Teenage Dream” singer nudged her to carry out a track.
“Freak us out, Freaky Friday,” Perry mentioned.
Liebe first sang Amy Winehouse’s “You Know I’m No Good” as an unimpressed Perry interrupted, “Come on, we want extra,” as Liebe continued.
“That’s not sufficient,” Perry decided on the track’s finish. “Strive ‘Bennie and the Jets,’” she instructed, claiming Liebe had nothing to lose as a result of it’s “not her dream but.”
Perry then urged her to “present us what your voice can do, take it to the restrict, no trying’ again.
“Sing it prefer it’s your new dream,” she added.
The contestant took Perry’s recommendation and pushed her voice to its wailing limits throughout her rendition of the Elton John basic — apparently impressing Perry, who continued shouting calls for in the course of the second track.
“Extra of that! Maintain it out,” Perry instructed.
All three judges clapped for Liebe’s second strive, though she mentioned that she felt like she was going to go out from following Perry’s suggestions.
“Unintentional American Idol,” Perry nicknamed Liebe.
“I really feel like a comic book strip character simply got here to life,” Perry mentioned after Sara Beth was accomplished, with Bryan expressing his “love” for her efficiency.
“Look, if it’s not your dream, it’s not gonna go far as a result of I additionally respect everybody that’s strolling by that door who will lay down their life for this golden ticket [to Hollywood],” Perry added about different hopefuls advancing to the subsequent spherical of competitors.
In the end, Bryan and Perry voted for Liebe to maneuver on to the subsequent spherical, whereas Richie “went together with his intestine” and voted towards her as a result of he didn’t suppose she took the competitors critically.
“Sara Beth, you’re within the dream now. Go get your golden ticket,” Perry dismissed Liebe. “Hurry earlier than the dream ends!”
The Submit has contacted a rep for Perry for remark.
“Boo to Katy Perry for mother shaming Sara Beth. Insinuating that she has been ‘laying on the desk an excessive amount of’ to have 3 children by age 25. A younger mom following a dream whereas elevating her youngsters must be raised up not put down,” one individual tweeted.
“Really, @katyperry has confirmed she doesn’t care about all girls,” one other claimed.
“I actually don’t like how Katy Perry simply handled Sara Beth on #AmericanIdol,” one tweeter said. “I don’t watch this present in any respect and my television was already on the channel however what I witnessed was not proper. They let Katy Perry bully this lady on reside nationwide television earlier than she even began singing. So ugly.”
“A few of the issues Katy perry says to the feminine contestants is [mind-blowing emojis],” one other fan noticed.
Final week, Perry broke down in tears after a survivor of the 2018 mass shooting at Santa Fe High School auditioned with an emotional efficiency of “Stone” by Whiskey Myers.
“Our nation has f–king failed us!” Perry shouted. “This isn’t OK!”
“American Idol” airs Sundays at 8 p.m. EST on ABC.
