Katy Perry is set to quit American Idol over being made to look like the “nasty judge”, reports say. The Firework singer, 38, felt like she had been “thrown under the bus by producers” after she was accused of “bullying” and “mum-shaming” contestants.
Katy believes they “edited her to look like the nasty judge” in the show’s latest series, an insider has claimed, reports The Daily Express US.
The new season was “way too much for her to handle” and she is reportedly set to leave behind a $25 million pay packet.
“Katy feels like [the producers] threw her under the bus. She feels like her comments could have been removed,” the source told DailyMail.com.
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“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.
“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.”
They added: “She has accomplished so much in her career and is now being looked at as a nasty reality show judge.
“Katy’s wanted out for some time now, but this season was way too much for her to handle.”
They added: “She has accomplished so much in her career and is now being looked at as a nasty reality show judge.
“Katy’s wanted out for some time now, but this season was way too much for her to handle.”
Katy was accused of “mum-shaming” 25-year-old contestant Sara Beth Liebe after telling her she had been “laying on the table too much”.
The I Kissed a Girl songstress also told hopefuls Carina DeAngelo, 25, and Nutsa Buzaladze, 25, that their performance was “underwhelming” and their “energy was broken” during the ABC show’s Hollywood week.
Angry fans have taken to social media throughout the most recent series to criticise the judge’s comments.
Katy was even slammed after Iam Tongi was crowned as this year’s winner.
The source said she has now had enough, denying her decision to quit was a “money thing”.
“For her, it is starting to be more of a legacy issue,” they said.
“She does not want her career defined by a talent competition show where she isn’t even performing.”
Express.co.uk has contacted Katy’s representative for comment.
