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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7iQn-toQp6A
When the new season of American Idol was announced, people were floored. There would be a new season of audition fails, inspirational people, and incredible musical talent. Once the season began on March 11, 2018, fans of the show had mixed reviews about the tonal shift of the show, as well as the new array of judges. It wasn’t until the third episode aired on March 14th, that American Idol would receive its largest backlash. More specifically, by 33-year-old Katy Perry and 19-year-old auditionee Benjamin Glaze.
Katy Perry is a Pop singer/song writer who gained national and international fame in 2008 when she released her single “I kissed a girl and I liked it.” She acquired a massive fan base that would inspire her to create unique, and controversial, music and tours. It wasn’t until 2016 that she would step back from touring and focus on producing and writing. Fans were thrilled at the announcement that she would be a new judge for the American Idol revival. She was met, however, with massive criticism during the third episode, featuring Benjamin Glaze. Upon entering the room, and introducing himself, the judges asked if he had been involved with anyone, saying “Have you kissed a girl and liked it?” Glaze then responded that he had not been in a relationship, and was saving those acts for someone special. Perry then rises from her chair and says “Come here now,” and the judges laugh as she asks for a kiss. Glaze relents, and kisses her on the cheek. When Perry asked for another, she turned her head and surprises Glaze with a kiss. Glaze, obviously shaken and surprised, goes to his spot and continues his audition. Though he does not get through, this would not be Glaze’s last time in the spot light.
In an interview with the New York Times, Glaze admits to feeling “A tad bit unconformable,” and that he was saving his first kiss for someone special. He also stated “Would I have done it if she said, ‘Would you kiss me?’ No, I would have said no,” while also acknowledging how most men would be thrilled at chance to kiss a celebrity, and how he wasn’t that kind of person. It should also be noted, however, that Glaze himself does not consider Perry’s behavior as sexual assault. In an Instagram post, Glaze says he was caught off guard, but does not accuse Perry of Sexual misconduct.
In response to the episode, many fans and viewers took to social media to express their discomfort. Most of the posts centered around the age difference between Perry and Glaze, as Perry is in her mid thirties, and Glaze is a teenager. Many people also responded by posting how Glaze was visibly uncomfortable with the kiss, which may have led to his shaky audition. People are even referring to Katy Perry’s controversial past of kissing fans on stage, and even relating to the episode prior were Perry flirts with another contestant before their audition. The biggest response, however, was how Perry is a woman, and Glaze is a man. People were making reference to famous argument that “If a women does it, is it ok?” and the response has been massively mixed. Many people say this IS sexual harassment, some even using judge Blake Shelton as an example. If Shelton, an middle aged man, kissed a teenage girl in such a way, would people be as upset? Many responded with “Yes, and then some.” Busang Seene, a writer for Cosmopolitan, uses the federal description of sexual in her article Yes Means Yes: Consent and Your Rights: “a person who unlawfully and intentionally sexually violates [you] without [your] consent.” And how “The same act defines consent as ‘voluntary or un-coerced agreement’.” She then goes on to argue that this doesn’t include acts like kissing, butt grabbing, and cat calling. She brings up the #MeToo movement, and how consent is a huge part of the fight. In the wake of the #MeToo Movement, many are asking for Perry to make a public apology for her actions, as this undermines the message so many have been fighting for. On the flip side, others are calling Perry’s actions as innocent fun, and acknowledging the contestant’s own post as proof. People also said the kiss was no more then a peck, and Glaze would be more inclined to boast about the kiss, rather then reject it. Perry has yet to make a public response, which continues to flame the argument across many social media platforms, as well as main stream news outlets.
One cannot look upon this news story, as well as the response to it, and not connect to gender roles and stereotypes. Busang Seene wrote in another article on the kiss directly, and voiced how “Feminism isn’t just for women,” and how “Consent knows no gender.” Honestly, that’s the best way to describe this situation in a few words. But how did this happen? How did our society come to let this behavior go unnoticed? Dr. Melanie Greenburg, who holds a p.h.d in psychology and is the author of “The Mindful Self-express,” Sheds some light on that. She describes, both in her book and in her online forum, how there are many ways sexual harassment is manipulative, and one of them is “Normalizing harassing behavior.” While she describes that in a more intimate way, that is very true to life on a major scale. We, as consumers of celebrity behavior, accept the Harvey Weinstiens of the world. We see someone like Kevin Spacey abuse people, and we continue to support and admire them. The reason it is so dangerous for us to push off this incident as “harmless fun,” is because if we do, we normalize consent as secondary. This can never be that case.
Sources:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/arts-and-entertainment/wp/2018/03/15/american-idol-contestant-was-uncomfortable-but-says-katy-perrys-kiss-wasnt-harassment/?utm_term=.33355627d8f8
http://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/american-idol-perry-kiss-1.4577382
https://www.cosmopolitan.co.za/real-talk/katy-perry-kiss-americon-idol/
https://www.cosmopolitan.co.za/real-talk/knowyourrights/consent/
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-mindful-self-express/201710/6-manipulations-used-in-sexual-harassment