For the first time in six years of judging on American Idol, Katy Perry faced the backlash of boos from the audience during the April 17 episode. This surprising moment came when she gave a critique to contestant Nutsa Buzaladze, which some viewers found harsh.
During Nutsa’s performance of “Paris (Ooh La La)” by Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, the 25-year-old singer gave a standout performance that earned her a place in the Top 26. However, Katy Perry’s feedback sparked an unexpected reaction. While she complimented Nutsa’s energy, she also offered a critique about her style, which she felt was a bit too over-the-top at times.
“Nutsa, every time you take the stage, it’s like you glitter bomb the stage,” Katy said. “Listen, I think one thing I personally would like to see from you is not one piece of glitter the next time. I know that’s going to be hard.”
This comment was met with a chorus of boos from the audience in Hawaii, where the show was filming. As the crowd reacted negatively, the other judges were stunned. Lionel Richie expressed his surprise with a simple, “Whoa, hostility!” and Luke Bryan humorously remarked, “Yes! Katy got booed. Katy got booed.”
Despite this rare moment of audience disapproval, Katy Perry remained confident in her critique. She explained further, “What I’m saying is that I’d like you to flip the script. I think we want to be pulled in by our hearts too. I’d love to see that, and I think America might too.”
Katy’s candid feedback was rooted in a desire to see more emotional depth from Nutsa, as opposed to relying on flashy visual elements like glitter to grab attention. However, not all fans shared Katy’s perspective, and the boos made it clear that the crowd was not fully on board with her opinion.
Nutsa, for her part, appeared to take the criticism in stride. On Instagram, she expressed her gratitude for the love and support she received following the performance. “After receiving so much love and support from you, I got really emotional! I wanted to say THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart to all of you who felt my emotions, shared this journey with me, who voted for me and sent me love!” she wrote.
Whether Nutsa advances to the next stage of the competition remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: she has already captured the attention of both fans and mentors. Noah Cyrus, one of the show’s mentors, was full of praise for her performance. “That was so good,” she said backstage. “Just sing your face off next time. Walk in with a beautiful gown and just be gorg. Don’t lose who you are. I love you.”
American Idol continues to air Sundays and Mondays at 8 p.m. on ABC. Despite the occasional harsh feedback, the show remains as captivating as ever, providing a platform for both praise and tough love.