Katy Perry has faced her share of criticism during her time as a judge on American Idol, but her fellow panelist has her back.
Country singer, Luke Bryan, spoke out in defence of the 'Bon Appetit' singer, claiming that she gets 'picked on'.
The backlash began after one particular incident where the 38-year-old joked that a contestant, who was a mother of three, had been 'laying on the table too much'.
Many viewers claimed the remarks were 'mom shaming' and 'inappropriate', and the contestant also spoke out about the situation.
Sara Beth Liebe, recalling her audition in a now-deleted TikTok, said that Perry's dig was 'hurtful' and said it was 'embarrassing' that it happened on TV.
Perry then attracted further backlash when she criticised another contestant's outfit.
Speaking to Nutsa Buzaladze, the 'I Kissed A Girl' singer remarked: "Nutsa, every time you take the stage it’s like you glitter bomb the stage.
"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."
Bryan was talking to Fox News at the Country Music Association Fest when he spoke about his colleague.
ABC
The 46-year-old said: "Katy gets picked on for going out and trying to have fun making a TV show.
"You can’t be so safe in the moment that you’re so homogenized, you can’t ever go for a joke or go for a fun moment."
Reflecting on the job he and Perry do, Bryan acknowledged that they weren't going to be popular with the viewers at home all the time – as their job is to critique people.
Bryan said: "I think we get set up, as judges, you know, we kinda fall on the sword a lot of times.
"And get set up to where people can get very vocal on socials and stuff."
ABC
Although he came out to bat for his fellow judge, the 'Huntin', Fishin' and Lovin' singer said that Perry is able to take the heat.
Bryan said: "It makes me appreciate her even more, just how big of a scale she’s had to deal with that her whole career."
And Bryan isn't the only person from the show to have come out and defended Perry.
Oliver Steele made it to the top eight of season 21 in American Idol, and took to Instagram after reports circulated claiming that the singer was planning to quit the show.
"I've seen a lot of rumors going around the internet about Katy Perry possibly leaving Idol, and I don't necessarily know what’s true and what's not," he wrote.
"Here is what I know about @katyperry. Katy is not a bully, nor does she shame people."
