Katy Perry Suffers Breakdown On American Idol: Here’s Why!

Katy Perry has become known for her wit and warmth on American Idol. But the songstress showed a very different side of her personality when she suffered an emotional breakdown. And Katy wasn’t the only judge left in tears over a recent American Idol audition.

Find out about the contestant who caused Perry to break down in tears. And learn how the other judges reacted. Get all the details below.

Katy Perry – Cries For American Idol Contestant

American Idol contestants often get emotional before, during, and after their auditions. But this time, judge Katy Perry struggled with her emotions. And Perry cried when a school shooting survivor stepped up to audition for American Idol. Competing for the show’s 21st season, Trey Louis made all three judges emotional with his story, noted Variety.

The singer, 21, crooned Whiskey Myers’ 2016 song Stone for Katy and the other judges, Lionel Ritchie and Luke Bryan. But although the trio gave Louis a standing ovation, his memories of surviving the 2018 Santa Fe school shooting caused them all to become tearful. “I’m from Santa Fe, Texas. In May 2018, a gunman walked into my school,” recalled Louis.

And the Texas singer, who also works as a mattress salesman, shared, “I was in Art Room 1. He shot up Art Room 2 before he made his way to Art Room 1. I lost a lot of friends. Eight students were killed. Two teachers were killed. It’s just really been negative. Santa Fe’s had a bad rep since 2018.”

American Idol – Judges Discuss School Shootings

However, while all the judges became tearful, Katy suffered an emotional breakdown. And she yelled, “Our country has f***ing failed us! This is not OK. You should be singing here because you love music, not because you had to go through that f***ing bullshit.”

Katy Perry breaks down in tears after school shooting survivor shares his story on American Idol.

“Our country has f*cking failed us”

pic.twitter.com/SDXkoCGvHy

— Pop Base (@PopBase) February 27, 2023

And Perry added, “You don’t have to lose eight friends.” But amid her tears, the American Idol judge sought to send a message to listeners. And she shared, “I hope that you remind people that we have to change. Because, you know, I’m scared, too.”

However, after the singer described the 2018 mass shooting at Santa Fe High School, Luke Bryan took time to respond to Louis’ audition. And Bryan offered praise for the singer’s vocal talents. But after Perry shouted and cried, Louis acknowledged her emotions by stating, “Facts,” according to the NY Post. And Katy summed up her feelings about hearing from someone who survived the shooting that resulted in the deaths of two teachers and eight students. “This is not OK,” said Perry.

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However, before the show continued, American Idol judge Lionel Richie added his own views. And he opined, “We have tolerated this for so long… too long. It’s become the norm,” he pointed out tearfully. The three judges then agreed unanimously to allow Louis to progress to the next round of American Idol. 

Tell us what you think. How do you feel about American Idol showcasing Katy Perry’s emotional breakdown? And how did you react to the school shooting survivor’s recollections? After you share your views, check back on our site for more celebrity news.

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