American Idol contestant speaks out about 'uncomfortable' kiss with Katy Perry

The young contestant Katy Perry kissed says it made him 'uncomfortable.' Photo / YouTube

The American Idol contestant who was kissed by judge Katy Perry without his consent, has spoken out about the "uncomfortable" encounter in which he was robbed of his first kiss.

During the premiere of the newly-returned series, Perry kissed 19-year-old contestant Benjamin Glaze, after he had told the judges "I've never been in a relationship…I can't kiss a girl without being in a relationship."

Perry called him over and asked for a kiss on the cheek then moved her face so she could kiss him on the lips, before throwing her arms up triumphantly.

Guy auditions for katy Perry on new American idol having apparently never kissed a girl and katy calls him over. pic.twitter.com/dcVex4Hlvf

— SummaCumLaughs (@summacumlaughs) March 13, 2018

Glaze told the New York Times he was "a tad bit uncomfortable", saying he wanted to save his first kiss for his first relationship, "I wanted it to be special".

"If she said, 'Would you kiss me?' No, I would have said no. I know a lot of guys would be like, 'Heck yeah!' But for me, I was raised in a conservative family and I was uncomfortable immediately. I wanted my first kiss to be special."

That said, Glaze told the Times he doesn't hold it against Perry, and is actually glad for the attention its brought as it's a "great opportunity to get my music out".

Plus, he says, "It didn't really count. It was lip contact versus a romantic situation with someone you care about. That's what a real first kiss is."

This was not Perry's only incident on the show however; Perry also revealed to contestants she was on the hunt for a boyfriend, regularly flirting with a number of contestants during filming.

The Hot n Cold star took a shining to 27-year-old Trevor Holmes despite him insisting he was happy in his current relationship.

"You're so hot," Perry said when she met him. "Here's the thing. First of all, only hot guys are typically named Trevor. That's one of the names. Trevor, he's hot, he does construction on the side, and he loves his mum."

Perry also danced with a singer during Monday's episode and fell on the floor, suffering a wardrobe malfunction in the process.

American Idol viewers took to social media to voice their criticism of Perry following her
controversial antics.

Had a male judge done with a female contestant what @katyperry did here with Trevor, hell would have broken loose. This audition video made me quite uncomfortable. Having said that, I know this is what women deal with, every single day. pic.twitter.com/Aa9ZgZqNCc

— V (@ivivek_nambiar) March 13, 2018

Katy Perry was extremely disrespectful to Trevor’s girlfriend and the entire situation. How unprofessional. You’re there to judge his singing, not try to hook up with someone that’s clearly taken. Have some respect for someone’s relationship. #AmericanIdol

— Carrie 🌷🐰 (@carrieebridges) March 13, 2018

The way Katy Perry treated Trevor on American Idol was crazy. I would be disgusted if a man hit on me so intensely which means I'm also disgusted if a woman does that to a man.

— Jasmine 💙💚🧡💙 (@jmann_95) March 13, 2018