Katy Perry Set For 'American Idol' Return After Allegedly Being 'Upset' By Fan Backlash

Katy Perry is set to return as a judge for Season 22 of "American Idol" alongside Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie. Despite facing controversies and criticism during Season 21, Perry remains dedicated to nurturing contestants on their path to stardom.

In the previous season of the singing competition, Perry was accused of "mom-shaming" a young mother and was perceived as dismissive of certain contestants.

Amid the backlash, Perry allegedly felt betrayed by producers, fearing she was being unfairly portrayed as the "nasty judge." 

Keep on reading to learn more.

Iconic pop sensation, Katy Perry, is set to return as a judge on the renowned TV show "American Idol" for its Season 22.

Alongside her, country star Luke Bryan and legendary singer Lionel Richie will be reprising their roles on the judging panel. According to ABC, Ryan Seacrest will also return to host the singing competition, with auditions scheduled to kick off in August.

In season 21 of the show, Perry faced some controversies due to certain comments made to contestants, but insiders revealed to Page Six that the "Teenage Dream" singer remains undeterred by the "backlash."

One source claims Perry was "just doing her job" and is dedicated to nurturing and guiding the hopeful singers on their journey to stardom. The source also affirmed that Perry "has a unique sense of humor that may not always translate well on camera," but her intentions have never been malicious.

The insider described Perry as more than just a judge; but also a "mentor and friend to the contestants."

Earlier in the year, Perry sparked controversy among contestants and fans when she was accused of "mom-shaming" 25-year-old mother of three Sara Beth Liebe after quipping that she had been "laying on the table too much."

Liebe expressed her hurt and frustration in a heartfelt TikTok video, saying, "I think that it's hard enough to be a mom, and it's hard enough to be a woman." Unfortunately, the incident led Liebe to make the difficult decision to withdraw from the competition to prioritize her responsibilities as a parent.

In another instance, the "Roar" hitmaker received criticism in April for her feedback to contestant Nutsa Buzaladze regarding her glittery costume.

The singer had told Nutsa she didn't want her with any glitter the next time she took the stage, saying, "Nutsa, every time you take the stage, it's like you glitter bomb the stage. Listen, one thing that I would like to see from you is not one piece of glitter the next time. I know that is going to be hard."

Later in the season, Perry faced accusations of being "dismissive" towards contestant Wé Ani. This allegation arose after Wé Ani survived a round of eliminations while Perry's favorite contestant, Elijah McCormick, did not.

In the aftermath of the mom-shaming incident and the subsequent backlash, insiders close to Perry revealed to Daily Mail that the 38-year-old pop star had reached a breaking point. They claimed that Perry feared she was being unfairly portrayed as the "nasty judge" on "American Idol" due to what she believes is deliberate editing by producers.

According to the sources, Perry felt betrayed by the producers, as she believed her comments could have been edited out or presented differently to avoid misconceptions. "Katy became aware of the harsh criticism. Getting booed really upset her. She was trying to stay in her lane, do her job, and go home," the insider shared.

They continued, "She went into it thinking she was going to foster young talent. For her good intentions to be misinterpreted it was not what she wanted. She has accomplished so much in her career and is now being looked at as a nasty reality show judge."

ABC has recently announced that auditions for the upcoming season of "American Idol" will embrace a new format, starting with an initial round of virtual auditions conducted nationwide.

Aspiring singers will have the incredible opportunity to showcase their vocal talents to an "American Idol" producer in this first phase, aiming to secure their spot in the next round, where they will face the judges; Perry, Bryan, and Richie.