Katy Perry stole a 19-year-old’s first kiss on American Idol and it was really awkward
(American Idol)
Katy Perry is facing backlash after she stole a 19-year-old contestant’s first kiss on American Idol.
The singer has joined the panel of judges for the revival of the singing contest but is facing backlash over some of her behaviour.
Benjamin Glaize, 19, faced Perry and fellow judges Lionel Richie and country singer Luke Bryan for an audition.
Talking to the judges, he explained that he had never kissed a girl as he wouldn’t feel comfortable unless he was in a relationship.
“I’ve never been in a relationship,” he told the panel. “I can’t kiss a girl if I’m not in a relationship”.
Katy then beckons Glaize to come up to the judges’ chairs.
She instructs him to kiss her on the cheek.
(American Idol)
Perry, 33, was left unsatisfied by the lack of “smooch sounds” and asked him once again to kiss.
However, Perry quickly turned around and kissed him on the lips.
Glaize was so shocked he quite literally fell to the floor.
Richie, Bryan and Perry then shared high-fives.
Speaking about the encounter, Glaize has said that he felt “a tad bit uncomfortable”.
“I wanted to save it for my first relationship. I wanted it to be special.
“Would I have done it if she said, ‘Would you kiss me?’ No, I would have said no.
“I know a lot of guys would be like, ‘Heck yeah!’ But for me, I was raised in a conservative family and I was uncomfortable immediately.
“I wanted my first kiss to be special,” he told The New York Times.
Related: Halsey refused to let Katy Perry sing her bisexual love song
Perry has come under fire for abusing her position of power as a judge on the show.
One person questioned: “It was a forced sexual act. Imagine if this was from a male judge.”
“This was not okay. He was only comfortable with a kiss on the cheek. She ignored his boundaries. Guys deserve the same respect as girls. Public apology seems in order here,” another added.
Glaize has insisted that he felt the incident was not sexual harassment despite not getting through the audition process with his audition in which he performed Levels by Nick Jonas.
“I’m glad she did it because it’s a great opportunity to get my music out,” Glaize said.
