Singer Katy Perry shocked the audience of “Jimmy Kimmel Live” Monday night when she revealed that this will be her last season serving as a judge on “American Idol.”
The late-night host set up the announcement by asking Perry how much longer she planned to host the popular reality competition singing show.
“Well, you know, this fall, this September, I’m going to be doing this huge music festival in Brazil called Rock in Rio. It’s really exciting,” the 39-year-old singer replied, per The New York Post. “It’s a big deal for people all over the world, especially my Brazilian fans.”
“So I think this will probably be my last season for ‘Idol,’” she added, which prompted a gasp from the audience.
Perry continued, “I love ‘Idol’ so much. It’s connected me with the heart of America. But I need to feel that pulse of my own beat.”
The “Dark Horse” singer has been one of the panelist judges on “Idol” since the show was revived in 2018. She judges alongside Lionel Richie and country artist Luke Bryan.
When Kimmel asked how her co-stars reacted to the news, Perry indicated they didn’t know yet. “Well, they’ll find out tonight,” she joked.
The top-selling musical artist confirmed the announcement later with an Instagram post.
“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,” she wrote in the image caption.
Perry’s time on “Idol” hasn’t been without controversy. The “Hot n Cold” singer faced backlash for comments she made to contestants, including last March when she reacted strongly to a young mother who told the singer she had three children by the age of 25.
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“If Katy lays on the table, I think I’m going to pass out,” contestant Sara Beth Liebe said, to which Perry replied, “Honey, you been laying on the table too much.”
Liebe later commented on the exchange, saying she found it “embarrassing” and “hurtful” to have had that happen on television.
“Katy Perry made a joke that wasn’t super kind,” the contestant said. “I think that mom-shaming is super lame and I think that it’s hard enough to be a mom and it’s hard enough to be a woman,” Liebe added.