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‘American Idol’ Fans Are Really Creeped Out by This Video of Ryan Seacrest Hitting on Katy Perry
Um, that’s awkward. Ryan Seacrest made things super uncomfortable — for everyone — when he mae an incredibly cringey attempt at hitting on American Idol judge Katy Perry while cameras were rolling. Frankly, fans are baffled by the TV host’s behavior.
The strange ordeal went down as AI co-stars Katy, 33, Luke Bryan, 41, and Lionel Richie, 68, sat at their judges’ table. Ryan, who has hosted the reality television singing competition series since its inception in 2002, appeared to be unaware that they were live on air, despite the fact that the “Swish Swish” singer notified him several times.
“Your mom’s pretty,” 43-year old Ryan says in the video after Katy very distinctly clarifies that they’re live on air. He speaks quietly, like he only wants her to hear. She responds in a louder, jokey way to shrug off the comment. “My mom? Hopefully the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree,” she said.
“But you’re not a mom yet,” Ryan continues. He then teased “Want to talk about it?” as if he’s asking to be her baby-daddy. Ryan’s bizarre and borderline inappropriate comments clearly made Katy uncomfortable as she looked at her fellow judge Luke Bryan for help. Both of the other judges also seemed weirded out and confused by what was happening.
“Are we live? Are we back? Is this real TV?” an incredulous and visibly confused Katy asks. But the cringeworthy moment doesn’t stop there. Ryan answers her, “I think we’re back. This is real TV,” without looking directly at the camera and in a low tone that makes it seem like he thinks he’s off-air. “Are we professionals?” she reasons, nervously laughing. Watch the uneasy moment below.
katy perry literally had to tell ryan seacrest that the cameras were rolling and he continues to hit on her, asks if she’s a mom and says “you wanna talk about it??” after she says no. what’s going on i’m uncomfortable #AmericanIdol pic.twitter.com/ichf6TWGoh
— nova || 20 (@WHAMCULT) May 14, 2018
Fans had predictably strong reactions to the moment caught on film. “Katy Perry literally had to tell Ryan Seacrest that the cameras were rolling and he continues to hit on her, asks if she’s a mom and says, ‘you wanna talk about it??’ after she says no,” one confused viewer wrote on Twitter. “What’s going on I’m uncomfortable (sic).”
“He just pretty much confirmed his sexual harassment by asking Katy inappropriate questions,” another fan tweeted.
Ryan was previously caught ogling Katy’s breasts at the 2013 Grammy’s.
“Omg so uncomfortable, he is so creepy,” another Twitter user chimed in. The inappropriate behavior on live TV comes at a rather interesting time for Ryan, as earlier this year, the Live With Kelly and Ryan! host was accused of sexual misconduct. His former stylist, a woman named Suzie Hardy, came forward with the allegations, claiming that Ryan had acted inappropriately toward her when she worked at E! News. The E! network investigated Ryan and the claims and ultimately decided that Ryan had done nothing wrong.
At the time, Ryan released a statement disputing the sexual misconduct allegations.
“Recently, someone that worked as a wardrobe stylist for me nearly a decade ago at E! News, came forward with a complaint suggesting I behaved inappropriately toward her,” Ryan’s statement from Deadline read. “If I made her feel anything but respected, I am truly sorry.” Sooo, where’s Katy’s apology, huh?
