Fans Drag Katy Perry For Sexual Misconduct After 'American Idol' Kiss
It’s safe to say the American Idol hopeful who Katy Perry kissed didn’t like it. Now, fans have accused the singer, who is a first-time judge on the show, of sexual misconduct and even harassment.
That Awkward Moment
Ben Isaac Glaze is known as the contestant who has never been kissed until Perry changed that when they playfully kissed. Unfortunately for Glaze, he said he wasn’t really a fan of the big moment that went viral.
“I was a tad bit uncomfortable,” Glaze revealed. “I wanted to save it for my first relationship. I wanted it to be special.”
Interestingly enough, Glaze made it clear he did not think Perry was inappropriate. He said that one reason he was actually glad she did it was that he didn’t make it to the next step in the competition, but said still got to be on camera because of the kiss.
Perry has yet to respond to Glaze’s reaction to their special moment. This controversy just happened after a nun who had filed a lawsuit against Perry died in court.
Fans Say Ben Isaac Glaze Is A #MeToo Victim
Fans seemed to agree with Glaze about the kiss being "uncomfortable," but took things a step further as they accused Perry of sexual misconduct. Many tweeted that if the gender roles were switched, the moment wouldn’t have gotten as many laughs.
If a male judge did this, it would be called assault and harassment. There needs to be a proper response to Katy Perry’s abusive behavior on ‘American Idol’ https://t.co/ErxJB2O247 — Samantha Ettus (@samanthaettus) March 14, 2018
What if that would have been a male Idol Judge sneaking a kiss on the lips with female contestant. People would be going crazy and hashtagging #metoo . #doublestandard — Brit Linkner (@BritLinkner) March 12, 2018
I wouldn't want my first kiss to be forced on me by a stranger on TV either. If Katy Perry were an older man and had kissed a 19 year old girl without consent, she would have been fired by now. But she's already killed a nun this week, so I guess it's not a big deal. — ErasingBarry (@k_ovfefe) March 15, 2018
Imagine if a 33 year-old male artist tricked a 19 year-old female auditioner into a kiss like Katy Perry just did with that teenage guy. Would we all think it was cute? #AmericanIdol — Craig M. Tiede (@craigmtd) March 12, 2018
Ok, let’s be real for a minute: If Katy Perry was a man and that American Idol kiss happened to a woman, it would be sexual harassment, right? If we want people to listen to legit claims of harassment by women, we need to end the double standards. My 2 cents. — Anna Baglione (@AnnaBaglione) March 12, 2018
One compared it to sexual assault and came for other women who endorsed it.
Women are celebrating predatory behavior from Katy Perry. “Total savage” is how they describe sexual assault. https://t.co/iASIY1toLG — Mike Cernovich (@Cernovich) March 14, 2018
One said it was clear when they watched the moment during the show that Glaze didn’t want to kiss Perry.
Anyone else watching Idol feel like Katy Perry pressured that poor kid into letting her kiss him on the cheek and violated him by planting one on his lips? Would not have been okay for a male celebrity to do to a young girl. #americanidol #katyperry #mencanbesexuallyharassedtoo — Heather Campbell (@Niblet81) March 12, 2018
Another pointed out Glaze wasn’t the only male contestant Perry allegedly made feel uncomfortable.
The worst part is this comes right after Katy Perry hit on that other guy throughout his entire audition, making him uncomfortable... And I hate to do this, but if the genders were reversed, and a famous guy was hitting on a girl, people would be outraged.https://t.co/nccOa3WlcP — Ashley Rae (@Communism_Kills) March 14, 2018
One fan said they were uncomfortable just watching it all play out.
Am I the only one who was seriously uncomfortable about the Katy Perry kiss on #AmericanIdol? It’s super weird and awkward and not asked for . . . — Nikki Smith (@cmsfamily) March 12, 2018
Another fan added that Perry never gave Glaze the choice if he actually wanted Perry to be his first kiss.
@katyperry You were wrong to take his first kiss choice away from him. Not cool. — Britta (@PearlThePirate) March 15, 2018
See more responses below.
This interaction was non-consensual the comments implying that the contestant was inferior because he hadn't "kissed a girl" have societal consequences. Public apology needed. If you don't see the problem, try switching the genders in your head. #AmericanIdol @katyperry — Allison Swearengen (@_aswearen) March 12, 2018
Why is it not considered sexual harassment for Katy Perry to kiss a contestant who did not ask for it. There is a double standard here with liberals yet again! #MeToo — Lori Hendry (@Lrihendry) March 15, 2018
Hey @KatyPerry, Care to comment on why you kissed this teen against his will?https://t.co/oAjQHp9a8T — Ryan Saavedra (@RealSaavedra) March 15, 2018
How It All Went Down
Glaze said in his interview that if Perry actually asked him if he wanted her to kiss him and be the first girl he ever pecked, he would have declined.
In the actual moment, Perry’s fellow judge Luke Bryan asked Glaze if he ever kissed a girl and liked it, playing off of Perry’s hit I Kissed a Girl that was released in 2008. Glaze said no because he had never been in a relationship before.
Perry summoned Glaze and when he got closer, Glaze asked Perry about a kiss on the cheek. After he pecked her cheek, Perry took it a step further and kissed him on the mouth.
A Kiss Is A Kiss?
Meanwhile, Glaze’s friends told him his kiss with Perry certainly does not count as a first kiss.
“It was lip contact versus a romantic situation with someone you care about,” his friends said. “That’s what a real first kiss is.”
Be sure to keep up with Enstars for the latest news and updates on your favorite celebrities.
