American Idol alum Oliver Steele has once again defended Katy Perry against what he calls the “bullc***” backlash against her.
Katy has been raked over the coals online for her prickly comments to contestants, with critics on social media accusing her of “bullying” the judges.
DailyMail.com reported exclusively that the 38-year-old pop star is on the verge of quitting the ABC series, feeling she was “thrown under the bus by producers” who positioned her as the “nasty judge” in the series.
Oliver, who was a finalist on this year’s Season 21, plunged into the fray in May with an Instagram post insisting, “Katy isn’t a bully nor is she shaming people.”
Now in a new appearance on the podcast American Idol Unairedhe praised her as a “great person” and praised her for “how much she would push me without ever having to say, ‘I’m pushing you.'”
‘Great person’: On the American Idol Unaired podcast, American Idol alum Oliver Steele has again defended Katy Perry against what he calls the ‘bullc ***’ backlash against her
He’s a fan: He acknowledged she was “a little more reserved” than her co-panelists Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie “but that doesn’t mean she’s unapproachable”
He acknowledged that she was “slightly more reserved” than fellow panelists Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie “but that doesn’t mean she’s unapproachable.”
Oliver, 25, added: ‘You know, I was a little annoyed with the way she – the way she was treated after the show and the things people said because it’s all bullshit. Katy is a wonderful person.’
He recalled, “Like I came to her like the first day in Hollywood. I was like, “Katy, would you mind if I got a picture?” And she said, “Yeah, sure, just for a second,” because they did it like her makeup, and then she said, “Okay, let’s take that picture.” Like she’s just super sweet.’
One of his fond memories occurred during the show in Hawaii, where Katy turned to him and made funny faces as other contestants performed.
“Like, she was just the funniest, coolest person behind the scenes,” said Oliver, who grew up in Tennessee and lives in Nashville.
He also recalled an episode where the judges “saved” him, when they decided to protect one of the lowest scorers from the threat of elimination.
Before the rescue was announced, Katy had been looking ‘daggers’ for him – but once he knew he was free, she grinned and winked.
“She was always so supportive in her own little way of letting you know like, ‘Hey, like I’m supporting you and I’m here for you,'” he said.
Stagestruck: Oliver, who was a finalist on this year’s Season 21 (pictured), jumped into the fray in May with an Instagram post insisting, “Katy isn’t a bully nor does she shame people”
He recounted a conversation they had “after the show, off camera,” in which he thanked her for “all season pushing me to get better and reach my potential.”
Oliver suspected that Katy was behind one of his song assignments because it was a song “that I didn’t know and wasn’t familiar with.”
When he presented his theory to her, she replied, “You’re absolutely right. I picked that song for you because I know it was something you’re not familiar with and I knew it would challenge you, and you know what? You have risen to the challenge beautifully.’
Oliver said, “I think that’s the most important thing for me with Katy, how much she would push me without ever having to say, ‘I’m pushing you.'”
The crooner previously took to Instagram in late May with a statement positively advocating Katy’s behavior.
“I’ve seen a lot of rumors on the internet that Katy Perry might be leaving the idol and I don’t necessarily know what’s true and what’s not,” he said in his post. “Katy is not a bully, nor does she shame people.”
He revealed that he was nervous during multiple steps in the show’s process and Katy showed “an incredible ability” to detect this and figure out “what’s holding you back.”
He continued, “I love all the judges, but Katy always seemed to be able to look into my soul and tell me exactly what was bothering me, or what I was struggling with.”
At the panel: Oliver said, “I think that’s the most important thing for me with Katy, how much she would push me without ever having to say, ‘I’m pushing you'”
He said she reminded him to believe in himself and his artistry, challenging him to push himself and take risks he wasn’t comfortable with in order to move forward.
“I’m a better musician and artist after Katy Perry pushed me to believe in my potential and transcend my limitations,” he said.
Oliver tagged the Roar singer in the post and said he’s making sure she stays with American Idol during the turbulent time.
“You are a guiding light, an incredible teacher,” he said. “And you made me believe I’m my own hero. Thanks for everything.’
Oliver’s comments came after a source told DailyMail.com that the California Gurls performer “feels like her comments could have been removed” from an earlier broadcast because it’s inconsistent with the goals she set when she joined the series judging panel.
“She went into it thinking she would nurture young talent,” the source said. “Having her good intentions misinterpreted was not what she wanted.
“She’s accomplished so much in her career and is now seen as a nasty reality show judge.”
The source said Perry “became aware of the harsh criticism” aimed at her and that “being booed really upset her” as she “tried to stay at her job, do her job and go home ‘.
Broadside: He took to Instagram in late May with a statement defending the pop star, following DailyMail.com’s exclusive post that the musical artist is about to leave the series
Perry is debating leaving the job, which reportedly pays her $25 million per season
The source said Katy had “wanted to leave for a while, but this season was way too much for her” and that she’s considering quitting the job, which will reportedly earn her $25 million per season.
One of the controversies she was associated with during the show’s 21st season included an exchange when she reportedly shamed contestant Sara Beth Liebe in front of mom by saying she had “laid too much on the table.”
She also raised eyebrows with her feedback on contestants Carina DeAngelo and Nutsa Buzaladze at the show’s Hollywood Week showcase after saying they were impressed with their performance.
That’s what an insider told me Page six earlier this month that the fireworks artist “has a unique sense of humor that may not always translate well on camera, but she never has any malicious intent.”
The insider added: “Katy hasn’t been fazed by the backlash. This has been a roller coaster season with a lot of great talent so she’s just doing her job.’