American Idol’s first remote episode earned the show its lowest ratings of the season.
While the show’s numbers were mediocre, Katy Perry’s costume choice certainly had people talking.
The expecting star, 35, dressed up in a giant hand sanitizer costume for the entirety of the show.
Slump: American Idol’s first remote episode this Sunday earned the show its lowest ratings of the season
For the first remote episode of Idol Katy, fellow judges Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan got together with host Ryan Seacrest and the 20 top contestants digitally.
But fans didn’t seem to take to the format, earning the show only 6.04 million viewers.
It wasn’t all bad for the singing competition, which still topped the 18 to 49 rankings for primetime TV, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
While many people may have not tuned in, Katy’s costumed was the talk of the internet Sunday.
Her look received mixed reactions, with some raving about her silly look while others blasted the pop star for being insensitive about coronavirus.
Others simply complained that it was a cheesy bit.
Cleans up nice! While the show didn’t fare well, Katy Perry’s hand sanitizer earned a range of responses, with some laughing, others cringing and some calling her ‘tasteless’
Online: For the first remote episode of Idol Katy, fellow judges Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan got together with host Ryan Seacrest and the 20 top contestants digitally
How low can you go? Fans didn’t seem to take to the format, earning the show only 6.04 million viewers
On the whole, most people thought the costume was a fun way to raise awareness.
‘This was the best part of @AmericanIdol. Watching @katyperry as a bottle of hand sanitizer,’ a fan tweeted.
‘….Very cute and absolutely funny @katyperry,’ another Idol fan posted.
But others were bothered by how lighthearted the star was being about such serious issues.
‘@AmericanIdol you’re really paying Katy Perry to make a joke out of this crisis I fast forward through all of her in a sanitizer bottle,’ wrote one angry tweeter. ‘what an idiot it takes away from the whole show she’s totally disconnected rich person who is full of herself.’
‘I think it’s appalling that you will come out in a sanitizer hand pump I think your money is mocking the pandemic a pitiful of you @KatyPerry.’
Cute stuff! Most people thought the costume was a fun way to raise awareness
‘Tasteless’: Others were bothered by how lighthearted the star was being about such serious issues
Another person echoed that statement, posting: ‘Katy Perry I thought this was tasteless! It’s a serious show, and seeing Perry dressed like hand sanitizer seems like she is mocking what we are all experiencing and dumbs down the seriousness the top 20 are challenged with.’
More mocked the costume for simply being cringey.
‘I love watching Katy Perry dressed as hand sanitizer giving advice about being taken seriously as an artist,’ joked one.
‘#AmericanIdol is America suppose to take Katy Perry serious dresses as hand sanitizer. I’ve seen stupid stuff but that took the cake,’ wrote one fan.
‘I’m sorry @AmericanIdol but you gotta get @katyperry out of that sanitizer box,’ shared another. ‘It’s making us want to change the channel. And I hate myself that I used to have a crush on her.’
Not their thing: More mocked the costume for simply being cringey or ‘stupid’
Overreacting much? Katy’s fans defended her from the criticism
Katy’s fans defended her from the criticism, with one wondering: ‘Katy Perry is being dragged just because she dressed up as a hand sanitizer and told people to wash their hands…what the actual f***?’
While Idol ratings were nothing to brag about, the show was still quite the logistical feat.
The remote episode was filmed from 40 locations across the country using just iPhones.
Next week of American Idol will air Sunday. May 3rd on ABC.
Tune in: Next week of American Idol will air Sunday. May 3rd on ABC