Wardrobe malfunctions are an occupational hazard for performers, and even seasoned celebrities like Katy Perry are not immune to such mishaps.
During the latest episode of “American Idol” on Monday, the pop star found herself in a precarious situation when her elaborate metallic top nearly fell off midway through the show.
The incident unfolded shortly before contestant Roman Collins took the stage to perform James Brown’s iconic hit “It’s a Man’s Man’s Man’s World.”
As the cameras panned to the judges’ panel, Perry could be seen clutching her silver Kate Barton-designed top, desperately trying to keep it in place.
“I need my top to stay on,” Perry exclaimed, shooting a worried look at the camera. “If it’s not fixed, this show is going to get more than it wanted.”
Sensing the urgency of the situation, a team of stylists and crew members swiftly sprang into action, gathering around Katy Perry in an attempt to salvage the wardrobe malfunction. Even fellow judge Luke Bryan offered his assistance, brandishing a pair of scissors and quipping, “Hey, I got it! I’m going in… Never mind,” before deciding against taking drastic measures.
The show then cut to a clip of Perry holding her top close to her chest while seated at the judges’ panel. “That song broke my top off,” she remarked, referring to Collins’ powerful performance. “I guess it is a woman’s world.”
Later on, Bryan and Lionel Richie couldn’t help but poke fun at the incident, playfully exclaiming, “Ratings! Here we come ratings!” However, Perry, who at this point was hiding behind the panel with a pillow covering her chest, reminded them, “It’s a family show!”
After the show, Katy Perry spoke to Access Hollywood about the incident, admitting that she knew she was “rolling the dice” with her daring outfit choice.
“I wouldn’t call it a malfunction, I’ll just call it an interesting moment on live television,” she said. “It seems like every season, I’m either tearing the seam of my pants or … I’m just super expressive physically. I just love this outfit so much and I knew I was rolling the dice but I was like, who cares?”
Despite the wardrobe drama, the show went on, and the top 14 contestants were revealed, setting the stage for the next round of performances on the long-running singing competition series.