American Idol contestant Sara Beth Liebe quits after speaking out against Katy Perry’s ‘mum-shaming’
Sara Beth Liebe, a contestant on American Idol, has quit the show after speaking out about Katy Perry’s “mum-shaming” comments.
Liebe quit the series on Sunday night (2 April) after a performance of The Police’s song “Roxanne”.
“This opportunity is really rad, but this is actually gonna be my last performance ’cause my heart’s at home,” she told Perry and co-judges Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan.
“So I’m gonna get home to my babies. They kinda need me. So thank you,” she added before rushing off the stage.
The 25-year-old shocked the judges with her decision, with the three stars urging the musician to come back.
Perry told Liebe: “Sara Beth, I know life is scary. I also know that it’s easier to walk away than to be rejected. But then I also know that you lose out on your fullest potential.”
“Remember that self-love is just as big as motherly love,” the “I Kissed a Girl” singer said. “Don’t leave the competition.”
Liebe – who had made it into the next round – decided to exit the series, stating that she wished her children were “a little older”.
@sarabethliebe Well. I didnt think id be making this video, but i just wanted to say a couple things since im being flooded with articles and comments/messages about this.
♬ original sound - Sara Beth
Following her exit from the programme, Perry said: “Man, that sucks. It’s not easy for anyone. Everyone has their own story.”
Liebe’s decision to quit the show follows after she spoke out against a “joke” Perry made during her decision.
After the aspiring singer told the judges that she was a 25-year-old mother to three children, Perry stood up in shock.
“If Katy lays on the table, I think I’m going to pass out,” said Liebe.
In an apparent quip about Liebe being a young mother, Perry responded: “Honey, you’ve been laying on the table too much.”
After the episode aired, Liebe took to social media to call the Grammy award-winning artist out for the “hurtful” remark.
“It was embarrassing to have that on TV, and it was hurtful,” she said in a TikTok video, which has received over 45,000 likes.
“I think that women supporting and uplifting other women is so cool, and I think that mum-shaming is super lame.”
The Independent has contacted a representative of Perry for comment.
Perry joined American Idol as a judge for five seasons, having joined season 16 in 2018.
