Luke Bryan defends Katy Perry over infamous on-air kiss
American Idol's Luke Bryan has defended fellow judge Katy Perry on Tuesday's The Morning Show.
Katy, 33, came to headlines earlier this month for having kissed contestant Benjamin Glaze, 20, on the lips, after he revealed that he'd 'never been in a relationship' and couldn't 'kiss a girl without being in a relationship.'
Luke told Channel Seven's Larry Emdur of the infamous on-air kiss: 'It's unfortunate that stuff like that turns into a story that big.'
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'It's unfortunate to have turned into a story that big': Luke Bryan, 41, defended fellow American Idol judge Katy Perry, on Tuesday's The Morning Show, over THAT infamous on-air kiss with contestant Benjamin Glaze
Larry quizzed the country music star on the uproar following the televised moment.
'It's unfortunate that stuff like that turns into a story that big. I watched an actual interview where the boy....the kid said in an interview that he was cool with everything,' the 41-year-old responded.
'I gotta back Katy on that,' Luke went on to say, adding: 'We're [the judges] going to get it right sometimes and wrong sometimes.
Got her back: The country star said of the kiss between Katy and the 20-year-old contestant: 'I gotta back Katy on that,' going on to say: 'We're [the judges] going to get it right sometimes and wrong sometimes'
'We're in there critiquing people. They say something one day that not everyone is going to like. That's just what you signed up for,' the Play It Again hit-maker continued.
During American Idol's premiere episode earlier this month, Katy caused an uproar from having kissed contestant Benjamin Glaze on the lips.
Benjamin admitted he'd 'never been in a relationship' and he couldn't 'kiss a girl without being in a relationship.'
The 13-time Grammy nominee transformed their chaste kiss on the cheek to a full-mouthed moment, which left Benjamin gasping: 'Katy! You didn't!'
'Come here right now!' The controversial on-air incident occurred when Benjamin admitted he'd 'never been in a relationship' and he couldn't 'kiss a girl without being in a relationship'
However Luke is not the only one to have defended Katy, with Benjamin himself sharing in a lengthy post to Instagram last Wednesday.
'I do not think I was sexually harassed by Katy Perry,' the electronics store cashier wrote.
'I was uncomfortable in a sense of how I have never been kissed before and was not expecting it. My main goal is to reach people through the universal love of music and not cause strife or anger against anyone or about any situation!'
Glaze was 19 when he auditioned last October with a self-penned song called Stadium and he's received plenty of press, but not the Gold ticket.
The 13-time Grammy nominee transformed their chaste kiss on the cheek to a full-mouthed moment, which left Glaze gasping: 'Katy! You didn't!'
'I do wish I would have performed better in the moment,' Benjamin - who comes from a conservative Oklahoma family - continued.
'I should have picked another song to sing and calmed myself down regardless of the kiss. I should have been able to perform under pressure.'
The singer's new girlfriend Carrie thought it was 'cool' that his first kiss was from the pop diva.
'He kissed a celebrity,' Carrie told Inside Edition on Thursday, adding: 'How great for him!'