An American Idol contestant who said that he received his first kiss from Katy Perry has been jailed for 25 years in Oklahoma.

Benjamin Glaze, 26, was convicted of aggravated possession of child sexual abuse material last week.

The Tulsa Police Department said that they first received reports about Glaze’s activities in April 2024 and later uncovered 700 images and videos depicting child sexual abuse on his device.

Katy Perry, who was part of one of the contestant’s most memorable moments on the show, has reportedly taken the news especially hard. During the audition stage, she spontaneously kissed the contestant on the lips—a moment that drew both praise and criticism from viewers. At the time, it was seen as lighthearted television, but in the wake of the sentencing, the clip has resurfaced with a darker tone. Sources close to Perry say she feels “devastated” and “blindsided” by the revelations, struggling to reconcile the playful moment with the disturbing truths now exposed.

Former contestants and fans alike have weighed in, many expressing a sense of betrayal. For viewers who invested emotionally in the contestant’s journey, the news has turned triumph into tragedy. The case has also reignited broader conversations about the responsibilities of reality shows to not only entertain but also protect the integrity of their platforms. As one industry insider put it, “These shows create stars overnight, but they also have a responsibility to know who they’re putting on screen. This is a wake-up call.”

The former singer, originally from Oklahoma, was arrested and charged with aggravated possession of child sexual abuse material in October 2024.

He later pleaded guilty to the charges.

Benjamin Glaze kissed Katy Perry when he appeared on American Idol during the show’s sixteenth season (ABC)

He will now serve 15 years in custody, with an additional 10 years suspended. Glaze will also have to register as a sex offender.

The singer gained widespread recognition after appearing on Season 16 of American Idol, where he auditioned in front of judges Katy Perry, Luke Bryan, and Lionel Richie.

He was 19 years old at the time and claimed to the judges that he had never kissed a girl before.

Although his rendition of Nick Jonas’ “Level” did not get him through to the next stage of the competition, Katy Perry kissed Glaze in a controversial move.

“Yeah, I got him,” she was heard saying after they kissed.

“I really enjoyed meeting you today. You gave my heart a flutter.

“I think you’re really sweet,” she added.

Glaze later told The New York Times that he wanted his first kiss to be “special.”

Benjamin Glaze has been jailed for 15 years, with an additional suspended 10 years (Tulsa Police Department)

Perry became the center of a social media firestorm, with some viewers claiming that kissing Glaze was inappropriate.

At the time, Glaze took to Facebook to say that he was “not complaining about the kiss from Katy Perry at all.”

“I am very honoured and thankful to have been a part of American Idol… I do wish I would have performed better in the moment.

The fallout is likely to linger for months, both within the American Idol community and the entertainment industry at large. Fans have called for greater transparency in how reality shows screen contestants, while others argue that the platform itself should issue a formal apology for giving someone with such a past a national spotlight. Some even question whether the show’s credibility has been irreparably damaged.

“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.

“I do not think I was sexually harassed by Katy Perry and I am thankful for the judges’ comments and critiques. I was uncomfortable in a sense of how I have never been kissed before and was not expecting it,” he wrote.

Since appearing on the show, Glaze joined the Marines in 2019 and served in Japan. According to his LinkedIn page, Glaze was also working as a video editor for business videos.

The entertainment world is reeling after shocking news broke that a former American Idol contestant has been sentenced to 25 years in prison, following the exposure of a dark and disturbing criminal past. The revelation has sent waves of disbelief across fans of the long-running show, who once celebrated the contestant as a symbol of raw talent and star potential. The scandal has also reportedly left judge Katy Perry “devastated,” given her memorable on-air moment with the singer years ago, when she famously kissed him during an audition that went viral.

The sentencing marks one of the most dramatic falls from grace in American Idol history. The contestant, who once appeared poised for stardom, had built a strong fan following during his time on the show. Yet behind the stage lights and inspirational performances was a troubling reality that has now come to light in the courtroom. Prosecutors revealed a pattern of criminal behavior that dated back years, shattering the wholesome image that had been projected to millions of viewers.

The case has ignited debate about how reality television platforms like American Idol handle vetting processes for contestants. While the show has often prided itself on giving “ordinary people” the chance to achieve extraordinary dreams, critics now argue that producers may have overlooked—or ignored—red flags in pursuit of compelling storylines and ratings. Fans, meanwhile, have expressed outrage on social media, questioning how someone with such a history was allowed to compete and gain fame on national television.

The sentencing itself was severe, reflecting the gravity of the charges and the impact on victims. In court, prosecutors painted a picture of a double life: one of a rising star adored by millions, and another steeped in criminal actions that went undetected for far too long. The judge’s remarks underscored the seriousness of the offenses, calling them “a betrayal of trust” and “a stain on a platform built on hope and inspiration.”

For now, the focus remains on the victims, the sentencing, and the jarring reality that one of television’s most celebrated singing competitions inadvertently elevated someone whose past stood in stark contrast to the values the show promotes. As details continue to emerge, the scandal serves as both a sobering reminder and a cautionary tale: fame can amplify talent, but it can also conceal truths that, when revealed, shatter illusions in the most devastating ways.

What was once remembered as a hopeful story of a young talent pursuing their dreams will now forever be linked to one of the darkest scandals in American Idol history. The contestant’s 25-year prison sentence not only marks the end of his freedom but also the collapse of a carefully crafted public image. For fans, judges, and especially Katy Perry, the news has rewritten the legacy of a contestant who went from a moment of national TV fame to a headline-making fall that no one saw coming.