"American Idol" contestant Benjamin Glaze was unexpectedly kissed by judge Katy Perry during his audition.
On Sunday night's episode, the 19-year-old confessed that he had never been kissed.
“Have you kissed a girl and liked it?” Luke Bryan asked, referencing Perry’s popular song, “I Kissed A Girl”.
“I’ve never been in a relationship,” he said. “I can’t kiss a girl without being in a relationship.”
Perry decided to swoop in and give him a good luck kiss. “Come here, Benjamin. Come here right now!” she said.
Glaze walked to the judge’s panel and went in for a kiss on the cheek that just wasn’t up to Perry’s standards. When Glaze went in for another kiss, the “Roar” singer turned her head and planted one on his lips.
After composing himself, Glaze began his audition singing Nick Jonas’s hit “Levels.” Unfortunately, he didn’t get sent Hollywood to continue in the competition.
Bryan suggested he “hone his craft a little more” and “get better at singing” before trying again soon.
Fellow judge Lionel Richie also said he had high hopes for Glaze’s career, even though it was a no from him.
“I really enjoyed meeting you today,” Perry said. “You gave my heart a flutter. I think you’re really sweet, but truthfully, there are just some people that are outsinging you right now, and so I don’t think it’d be fair to put you in that kind of competition. Next time just take your time. I think you were a bit rushed, and I think that’s because I sped up your BPM of the heartbeat.”
Credit: Frederick M. Brown
Credit: Frederick M. Brown
Glaze spoke about the media coverage of the kiss on his Instagram page. Contrary to reports, Glaze said he wasn't uncomfortable with the kiss, but the fact that he wasn't expecting the kiss and hadn't been kissed before was what caused discomfort.
“The way certain articles are worded is not done by me, and my true intentions are not accurately represented in every article you read about the situation,” Glaze said on Instagram. “I am not complaining about the kiss, I am very honored and thankful to have been apart of American Idol. The main purpose for the show is to find stars and new music artist. I do wish I would have performed better in the moment. I should have picked another song to sing and calmed myself down regardless of the kiss.”
“I do not think I was sexually harassed by Katy Perry and I am thankful for the judges comments and critiques. I was uncomfortable in a sense of how I have never been kissed before and was not expecting it.”
Glaze emphasized that he wants to reach people through music and not cause tension among anyone.
“American Idol” airs Sundays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.
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