Singer Katy Perry is currently at the center of a #HimToo scandal involving the male love interest from her 2010 music video “Teenage Dream,” and it’s reminding people of that other time she was at the center of a #HimToo scandal involving a young male contestant on American Idol.
In a series of (now private) Instagram posts shared last weekend, actor Josh Kloss accused Perry of pulling down his sweatpants at a July 14, 2012 birthday party in Los Angeles and exposing him to partygoers.
“As I turned to introduce my friend, she pulled my Adidas sweats and underwear out as far as she could to show a couple of her guy friends, and the crowd around us, my penis,” Kloss alleges.
The accusations have divided Perry fans. Some are sticking up for the embattled singer…
I am very sorry your career didn't exactly take off Josh Kloss. But I'll never believe the things you're saying about @katyperry. She was obviously just akwardly flirting with you if anything. This is boloney. I would consider it defamation of character.
— Amanda Long? (@AProscuitto) August 13, 2019
The fact that it took Josh Kloss 9 years to speak out against Katy Perry for “sexual harassment” says one thing about him, he wants money too! Very ridiculous. He was just praising her a few months ago on how “grateful” he was because Katy had him in his tennage dream video.
— Karina Sanchez (@kariisanc) August 12, 2019
I can ASSURE you that if @katyperry really assaulted that Josh Kloss guy at a PARTY, NINE YEARS ago, he would’ve spoken earlier. if he didnt others [at the party] would’ve. no he is just crazy obsessed with her. ever since shooting the video he wrote her songs, poems, had a…
— Haus von Katy (@HausKaty) August 12, 2019
While others are declaring her cancelled and using the hashtag #KatyPerryIsOverParty…
I believe Josh Kloss. Men should be awarded the same respect women get when they cry “me too” #KatyPerryIsOverParty
— Irving (@IrvingWev) August 13, 2019
Take allegations seriously. Just because Josh Kloss is a man and the person he is accusing, Katy Perry, is a celebrity doesn’t mean the allegations are any less valid
— Audrey // Lover (@PetermanAudrey) August 13, 2019
so it turns out katy perry has sexually harassed josh kloss. #KatyPerryIsOverParty
— Craigs’ Sane Asylum (@CraigsSane) August 12, 2019
Regardless of whether the incident with Kloss actually happened, the situation has reminded people of a time Perry really did behave in a way many felt was inappropriate.
It happened during the premiere of last year’s reboot of American Idol…
All these people out here saying Josh Kloss is a liar clearly don’t remember when Katy Perry robbed that dude of his first kiss on American Idol and thought she was funny. I believe him.
— Nancy ? (@itsnannnn) August 13, 2019
eh i can believe it. When i saw Katy make that contestant on American Idol kiss her i knew something was fishy #joshkloss #KatyPerry
— young x’ster (@me1odicgal4xy) August 13, 2019
I believe Josh Kloss!! Does anyone watch @AmericanIdol @katyperry is a straight pedophile. She’s always saying sexual things about young male artist in auditions. #DailyMail
— Chrissy ?? (@cowboy_chrissy4) August 13, 2019
A clip from the episode has begun circulating online once again. In it, Perry can be seen fawning over 19-year-old contestant Benjamin Glaze during his audition.
When asked, “Have you kissed a girl and liked it?”, Glaze, who heralds from a small town in Oklahoma, replied that he hadn’t, and that he was saving his first kiss for his first “real relationship.”
That’s when Perry, who was nearly 15 years his senior, stood up and beckoned, “Come here! Come here right now!” Obviously nervous, Glaze walked over. Perry then proceeded to trick him into kissing her on the lips.
Afterwards, Glaze asked for water before performing for the judges, who ultimately declined to advance him to the next round.
Later, Glaze told The New York Times, “I was a tad bit uncomfortable” by the whole thing, adding that if Perry had actually asked him for a kiss, he would have declined, but that, ultimately, he didn’t hold anything against her as it helped give his music more exposure.
He added that he wasn’t happy with his audition, saying, “I should have picked another song to sing and calmed myself down regardless of the kiss. I should have been able to perform under pressure.”
Many pointed out the double standard in Perry’s behavior, saying that if the tables had been reversed, and it had been a male judge demanding a female contestant 15 years his junior kiss him at an audition only to cast her away moments later, people would have been outraged.
Perry, who has a large gay fan base, has featured drag stars in her live performances and became infamous for two of her early songs, “I Kissed a Girl” and her homophobic tune “Ur so gay,” never responded to the criticism.
She has also yet to respond to the allegations made by Kloss.
Related: Katy Perry’s “Teenage Dream” man-crush says she forcibly exposed his junk at a party
TheMarc
She grabbed Shawn Mendes’ ass on the red carpet once too. Sorry, it is a double standard. Either it’s wrong all the time or not at all.
MicahBryant1498
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IWantAFullBeard
I’d be suspicious about any adult who sings about teenage dreams. Creepy.
PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS
You got tons of publicly. Boo hoo little religious freak…
PinkoOfTheGange
28 is a little old to pants someone, but 38, and 7 years later, is really to old to whine about it.
Yes the world is inherently unfair and there is a double standard.
lord.krath
I remember the Glaze incident. I felt uncomfortable for him! He had such an innocent story and she ruined it for him. I felt as bad for him as I did when karma bit The Deep in the ass during his reassignment scene in “The Boys.” I suppose that was the point. Maybe she is projecting something by not reading or respecting boundaries.
just me
sometimes when I watch these “reality” competitions, i cringe when i see the way they react to guys,(usually to hot ones), how the female judges say things that had they been said by a man to women, the world would be abuzz with #metoo’s…
derek mcgillicuddy
Why do they always say, “it took him nine years to complain.” Does that really matter? When you’re ashamed of something you don’t herald it you conceal it and that is why rapist get away with it all the time — the shame the provoke is stronger than one’s sense of justice and probably fear of the trolls just waiting to bring you down. I hate people.
thisisnotreal
You and me both, my sister was molested at 7 years old and didn’t start remembering it until she was 16. This was back in the 90s though so it was taken seriously. if she had done that these days she would have been called out for pretending to be a victim or for trying to get sympathy and attention and for not coming out earlier even though she had mentally blocked out the whole experience for years. People Are so quick to pull the “you just want attention” card but then when something horrible happens to them personally suddenly it’s “why won’t anyone believe me?!” Humanity ugh
PinkoOfTheGange
He got panted at a private party by a friend.
How about some perspective?
He was an adult and other than some exposure nothing sexual happened to him. This is less than “Grace’s” bad date. Stop with the false equivalencies; they only diminished when sex is being used as a weapon, and there are real victims, not wannabes aging out of the system.
Franklin
When did Kaite Perry become a SJW? I must have missed that.
Dymension
People need to chill out.
ClarkAlan
“Yes I’ll be at the party for sure! Will everyone be wearing sweatpants?”
michel_banen
“….to show a couple of her guy friends, and the crowd around us, my penis”. I guess it was a classic case of “Nothing to see here folks !” as he needs to remind us 7 years later now that his modelling carreer needs a boost.
innocentgay
You know why I know what both real and artificial boobs feel like? Because more than one girl has lobbed out a tit and forced it on me. Girls pull this kind of thing all the time and think it’s funny. Now, I don’t feel particularly victimized myself, but I’d much rather not have had boobs thrust up in my face, and I can see more serious and assaultive actions taking place without the perpetrator thinking anything about it.