Pop superstar Katy Perry is one of the judges on this season of American Idol, and while many have found her to be entertaining, others have taken to social media to slam her behaviour towards male contestants.
- Katy Perry ranks ex-boyfriends in bed
- Nun in legal battle with Katy Perry dies in court
- Katy Perry gushes about her great 'love' for New Zealand
The 'Firework' hitmaker has openly flirted with many of the hopefuls vying for their chance at stardom, and some have said she's being disrespectful, especially in light of the sexual harassment allegations in Hollywood and the 'Me too' movement.
One recent audition is being touted as the main example; that of 19-year-old Benjamin Glaze from Oklahoma. When he was coyly discussing his job as a cashier and how he uses it to meet "cute girls", one of the other judges playfully asked "have you ever kissed a girl and liked it?" Glaze then admitted he'd never kissed a girl, as "I have never been in a relationship and I can't kiss a girl without being in a relationship".
Perry then forced him to come over and kiss her on the cheek, then unsatisfied with that, turned her head quickly for a second one on the lips. Glaze, shocked, exclaimed "Katy!" as she threw her arms in the air victoriously.
"I was a tad bit uncomfortable," Glaze told the New York Times. "I wanted to save [kissing] for my first relationship."
"Would I have done it if she said, 'would you kiss me?' No, I would have said no," he said. "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."
Viewers took to Twitter to express their discomfort.
It's not the only moment Perry has expressed her open affection for a contestant. When 27-year-old construction worker Trevor Holmes walked into the California audition, Perry started flirting and called him a "dreamboat".
She added that "only hot guys are named Trevor." When Holmes said he called Perry "ma'am" because he respects her, she told him: "Don't respect me."
Newshub.
