Luke Bryan defends Katy Perry over American Idol backlash, thinks the entire judges panel will return
Backstage at the CMA Festival over the weekend, American Idol judge Luke Bryan defended fellow judge Katy Perry against the backlash she received during the season.
“I mean, we all get it … We’re judging kids at home that people fall in love with, so we’re not gonna bat a thousand. We’re not gonna bat a thousand, as judges,” Luke told Taste of Country and other outlets backstage..
“When me and Lionel and Katy sit down at the desk, in our hearts, we’re doing the best we can. You know, Katy gets picked on for going out and trying to have fun, making a TV show,” he said. “You can’t be so safe in the moment that you’re homogenized, [that] you can never go for a joke or a fun moment. Sometimes you gotta just say stuff and roll the dice on TV like that, however it gets perceived.”
“We get setup as judges”
“I think we get set up, as judges, you know, we kinda fall on the sword a lot of times,” he explained. “And get set up to where people can get very vocal on socials and stuff.”
“It makes me appreciate her even more, just how big of a scale she’s had to deal with that her whole career,” he said.
Katy was the constant source of “outrage” posts during the season. Whether it was Katy “mom shaming” a contestant, or criticizing a singer’s outfit that elicited boos, the judges seemed to be scrutinized under a microscope by the entertainment press.
Katy Perry American Idol Controversy: Is the Press Bullying Her?
“It may be my year next year. But we’re conditioned and calloused for it,” he added. “And Katy’s been dealing with that — it makes me appreciate her even more, just how big of a scale she’s had to deal with that, her whole career.”
Luke hints that that the entire judges panel will return to American Idol
Meanwhile, Luke also told reporters at the CMA Fest that he feels confident about continuing on the show as a judge. “My future with Idol [will continue] as long as the show is growing and popping, and we feel like we’re doing beautiful work as a show,” he said.
“We felt like this year was what we had all worked together to get to,” the singer continues. “As long as the vibe feels like we’re moving onward and upward — and we’re getting emotionally moved, we’re telling the stories of kids and the American spirit, and it’s a show that kids [and] parents can cry and laugh together and have fun [watching] — it’s gonna be a tough show for me and Lionel and Katy to walk away from.”
