Katy Perry announced that she has quit American Idol during an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live on Monday night, eight months after insiders exclusively revealed to DailyMail.com that she felt ‘thrown under the bus’ by producers.
The 39-year-old pop star and Idol judge used her spot on the ABC show to share the news, which comes after seven seasons on the music competition series.
The multihyphenate has been plotting her exit from the show since last year, when it was revealed she felt repeatedly ‘thrown under the bus by producers’ who she believed were purposefully editing her to look like the ‘nasty judge.’
The California-bred entertainer stopped by the late night talk show to promote season 22 of the long-running show, which will premiere on Sunday.
During the chat, Jimmy, 56, asked how long she planned to continue her run as one of the three American Idol judges, alongside Lionel Richie, 74, and Luke Bryan, 47.
Katy Perry announced that she has quit American Idol during an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live on Monday, eight months after insiders exclusively revealed to DailyMail.com that she felt ‘thrown under the bus’ by producers
‘You know, actually this fall in September I’m going to be doing this huge music festival in Brazil called Rock In Rio. It’s really exciting,’ Katy began her answer.
‘It’s a big deal. It’s a big deal for people all over the world, especially for my Brazilian fans. I think this probably will be my last show, my last season for Idol. I mean, I love Idol so much,’ she added.
‘It’s connected me with, like, the heart of America, but I feel like I need to go out and feel that pulse,’ Katy explained.
‘The pulse of Rio?,’ Jimmy asked.
‘That pulse to my own beat, you know what I’m saying, Jimmy?,’ she said.
‘Wow, wow. What did Luke and Lionel say about this?,’ Jimmy asked.
‘Well, they’ll find out tonight,’ Katy said.
‘Did they really not know?,’ Jimmy asked.
During the chat, Jimmy, 56, asked how long she planned to continue her run as a judge alongside Lionel Richie, 74, and Luke Bryan, 47
‘I think this probably will be my last show, my last season for Idol. I mean, I love Idol so much,’ Katy said
‘That pulse to my own beat, you know what I’m saying, Jimmy?,’ Katy said while revealing that the upcoming season of American Idol will be her last
Lionel Richie, Katy and Luke Bryan are pictured during American Idol season 16 in 2018
‘Well, they know that I have some things planned for this year,’ Katy said.
‘Wow, wow. How about that?, Jimmy said clearly surprised.
‘It’s going to be a very, very exciting year, Jimmy,’ Katy said.
Jimmy later asked if she had a succession plan for her spot as a judge.
‘Let’s just say I’m creating space for my new wingspan,’ Katy said.
‘They will miss you on that show, I’m sure,’ Jimmy said.
‘I love them so much,’ Katy said.
‘So much you didn’t tell them,’ Jimmy quipped.
‘Right,’ Katy said.
‘Wow, wow. How about that?, Jimmy said clearly surprised
Katy showed off her killer figure in a cutout black Aya Muse dress for her appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live
The 39-year-old pop star flashed her taut tummy in the look
‘You told me before. I guess you love me more than you love them,’ Jimmy said.
‘No, they know, they know,’ Katy said. ‘They figure I’ve been in the studio for a while. So they figure something is different.’
‘So this will be your farewell season,’ Jimmy said.
‘I think so, yes, it will,’ Katy said.
She noted it was their seventh season and former judges Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson had seven seasons.
‘Oh, so you feel like you don’t want to overshadow them or what?,’ Jimmy jokingly asked.
‘No, I love the show so much. But I want to go and see the world and maybe bring new music,’ Katy said.
‘Yeah, go see the world and make some new music,’ Jimmy said.
‘Maybe I’ll come back if they have me one day,’ Katy said.
To share the big news during the TV interview, the footwear designer — who dressed up with fiancé Orlando Bloom last month — flashed her taut tummy in the sexy look.
The long-sleeved outfit hugged her curves and boasted a subtle side slit that teased one of her long legs.
The long-sleeved outfit hugged her curves and boasted a subtle side slit that teased one of her long legs
Ryan Seacrest pictured with Lionel, Katy and Luke during the season 21 finale in May 2023
The revealing cutouts were accented with small, silver, butterfly-shaped hardware pieces.
The mother-of-one, who shares three-year-old daughter Daisy with her husband-to-be, rounded out the look with a pair of open-toe black heels.
Perry’s show-stopping look was styled by Tatiana Waterford.
To complement the presentation, the California Gurls hitmaker rocked her raven hair in an edgy updo.
The wispy look was punctuated with abbreviated face-framing mini bangs.
Katy, real name Katheryn Hudson, donned dangling, silver-toned, geometric earrings.
Her face of fully and flawlessly made up by celebrity makeup artist Michael Anthony, who noted in an Instagram caption about Perry on Monday night: ‘Word on the street is a farewell season of IDOL!!’
He accentuated the singer’s big blue eyes with moody, metallic gray eyeshadow and fluttery lashes.
The dress’ revealing cutouts were accented with small, silver, butterfly-shaped hardware pieces
Katy, real name Katheryn Hudson, donned dangling, silver-toned, geometric earrings
Her face of fully and flawlessly made up by celebrity makeup artist Michael Anthony, who noted in an Instagram caption about Perry on Monday night: ‘Word on the street is a farewell season of IDOL!!’
The music artist also used her Instagram platform to tease her upcoming career moves.
Sharing three snapshots of her Jimmy Kimmel Live look, she hinted at her bombshell news in the caption.
Engaging her 206 million followers, Katy wrote, ‘Let’s play two truths and a lie: 1. I beat @usher at Monopoly Deal.
2. I’m headlining Rock in Rio this September. 3. This is my last season on @americanidol.’
Then she added, ‘Tune in to @jimmykimmellive to find out.’
The post quickly racked up more than 123,00 likes from her fans, and Demi Lovato commented about the trio of picture, ‘Second slide is so cute!’
It featured the music sensation snuggled up in a fluffy white blanket that she held up to the bottom of her face, so that only her head was showing.
The music artist also used her Instagram platform to tease her upcoming career moves
Sharing three snapshots of her Jimmy Kimmel Live look, she hinted at her bombshell news in the caption
Engaging her 206 million followers, Katy wrote on social media, ‘Let’s play two truths and a lie: 1. I beat @usher at Monopoly Deal. 2. I’m headlining Rock in Rio this September. 3. This is my last season on @americanidol’
Katy joined American Idol for its reboot in 2018 as the singing competition moved from its original home on Fox to ABC.
She faced a slew of controversy and scandal during the past season – and sources told DailyMail.com in a June 2023 article that she had grown tired of dealing with the backlash from viewers, reaching breaking point when she was booed for doling out criticism to contestants.
Although Katy has faced criticism in the past, the insider revealed that season 21 had been particularly tough on her, particularly when she was dragged into a mom-shaming scandal that prompted one singer on the show to quit.
‘Katy feels like [the producers] threw her under the bus,’ the source said. ‘She feels like her comments could have been removed.
‘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. 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,’ the insider said.
During season 16, she was blasted for kissing 19-year-old contestant Benjamin Glaze, who wrote his own song, Stadium.
During season 16, Katy was blasted for kissing 19-year-old contestant Benjamin Glaze, who wrote his own song, Stadium
After revealing he was never kissed before, Katy came up and gave him a kiss directly on his lips.
‘I was a tad bit uncomfortable,’ Mr. Glaze told The New York Times. ‘I wanted to save it for my first relationship. I wanted it to be special.’
Katy during season 21 was accused of ‘mom-shaming’ 25-year-old Sara Beth Liebe.
Sara sang Amy Winehouse’s You Know I’m No Good, and Perry interrupted her performance, saying ‘Come on, we need more,’ as Sara continued.
‘That’s not enough,’ Katy said when Sara was done singing. ‘Try Bennie and the Jets,’ she instructed, adding that Liebe had nothing to lose because it’s ‘not her dream yet.’
Katy urged her to ‘show us what your voice can do, take it to the limit, no looking back.’ She added, ‘Sing it like it’s your new dream.’
Sara tried to incorporate Perry’s advice into her second song while Perry continued shouting demands at her while she sang.
‘More of that! Hold it out,’ Katy said before dubbing her ‘Accidental American Idol.
Sara then shocked the judges when she said that she had three children at home.
Katy pretended that she was going to faint, prompting Sara to say, ‘If Katy lays on the table, I think I’m going to pass out.’
Katy – who is a mother to two-year-old Daisy Bloom with Orlando Bloom – replied, ‘Honey, you been laying on the table too much.’
Sara said that she found Katy’s comments ‘hurtful’ and went on to discourage others from taking part in ‘mom shaming.’
‘At the start of my audition before I sang, I mentioned that I had three children and was a young mother and Katy Perry made a joke that wasn’t super kind,’ Sara Beth said.
‘I don’t have too much to say on my feelings about it because it’s probably pretty self explanatory.’
‘But, I did want to take this opportunity to say that I think that women supporting and uplifting other women is so cool and I think that mom shaming is super lame.’
On the following episode – after singing The Police hit Roxanne – she told Katy, Lionel and Luke, ‘This opportunity is really rad, but this is actually going to be my last performance, because my heart’s at home.’
‘So, I’m going get home to my babies. They kind of need me.’
Fans of American Idol were quick to criticize Katy’s behavior.
‘I really do not like how Katy Perry just treated Sara Beth on American Idol. They let Katy Perry bully this woman on live national tv before she even started singing. So ugly,’ a fan wrote on Twitter.
In a following episode, Katy was accused of causing ‘psychological warfare’ against two struggling singer, Carina and Nutsa.
She told Nutsa that she was going home when the top 26 was announced. She then revealed that she was not serious and that she was moving onto the next round.
Carina was later eliminated. In an April episode, Katy came for Nutsa again and was booed when she ‘advised’ her that she should change her wardrobe.
Wearing a shimmering gown and sparkly boots, Nutsa performed Paris (Ooh La La) by Grace Potter and the Nocturnals. Katy was not impressed.
‘Nutsa every time you take the stage it’s like you glitter bomb the stage,’ Katy told the contestant. ‘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.’
‘Katy got booed!’ Luke said after he and Lionel stood up in shock.
‘First time in six seasons,’ Katy clapped back.