American Idol hopeful Jorgie comes out and credits Katy Perry
Jorgie credited American Idol judge Katy Perry to inspire him to come out. (ABC/YouTube)
American Idol contestant Jorgie wowed the judges with an impression of judge Katy Perry, whom he credited for his decision to come out, before singing an original song.
Dressed in a camo ensemble, pink fur coat and pink sunglasses, the 23-year-old singer introduced himself and his band—Jorgie and the Jorgies—to the American Idol judges at the audition broadcast on Monday (March 18).
Jorgie first broke the ice by impersonating Perry’s “California Gurls”—adding extra emphasis on the vocalising bit—and then credited the singer for inspiring him while growing up.
“I just recently come out,” Jorgie told Perry, who congratulated him.
“Listening to ‘I Kissed A Girl’ and knowing that it could be mainstream—that helped me so much.”
— American Idol hopeful Jorgie
He continued: “And you were actually one of my inspirations growing up. Listening to ‘I Kissed A Girl’ and knowing that it could be mainstream—that helped me so much.”
Jorgie, who lives in Los Angeles after moving to the US from Israel as a teen, said his family was not aware he is gay.
“He doesn’t know anything about me,” he said, referring to his father. “He’s gonna see me and he’s gonna find out about everything.”
Jorgie then stunned the American Idol judges—Perry, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan—performing an original song called “Heaven.”
He said he wrote the song for a guy he liked, but to whom he never confessed his feelings.
Encouraged by the American Idol judges, Jorgie said the name of the person was Jeffrey.
American Idol judges praise Jorgie and his performance
The judges were impressed with Jorgie’s voice, although they recommended he changed the band name as it “doesn’t sound serious.”
“You’re real! You’ve got a real emotional voice,” Perry said, calling his performance “serious pro.”
“You have a real chance of being your dream,” she also told him, giving him a hug after he got three yeses from the judges and his golden ticket to Hollywood. “We love you just the way you are.”
Jorgie stunned American Idol judges singing a song called “Heaven”. (ABC/YouTube)
After the show aired, Perry wrote on Twitter: “I know this is a big day for you @jorgie_music…I’m happy that you can be your true self and I accept you for who you are. ❤️ ”
Fellow judges Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan also congratulated Jorgie on Twitter. “Absolutely nailed it. I didn’t miss a note, completely in awe,” Richie wrote, while Bryan commented: “Just straight up good singing right there.”
Other viewers writing on social media praised Jorgie him for his voice, his song and his coat.
Last week, another American Idol hopeful opened up about his sexuality and relationship with his family, melting the judges and the viewers’ heart.
Jeremiah Lloyd Harmon, gay son of a Catonsville pastor, sang a song he wrote, “Almost Heaven,” sitting at the piano. He too will be going to Hollywood.
