Katy Perry’s Ariel costume caused one major moment on 'American Idol' no one saw coming

A worried Ryan Seacrest rushed to the judges' table to help Katy Perry and asked, "Are you okay? Are you okay?"
Katy Perry in the costume of Ariel in 'American Idol'  (Cover Image Source: (L-R) YouTube | Hollywood Bench; Instagram | @katyperry)
Katy Perry in the costume of Ariel in 'American Idol' (Cover Image Source: (L-R) YouTube | Hollywood Bench; Instagram | @katyperry)

Mishaps on TV are commonplace when it comes to a reality show like 'American Idol' and are perhaps one of the most fun and engaging parts of watching a reality show that keeps viewers hooked. However, during one of these unfiltered parts, a truly hilarious moment unfolded with Katy Perry. In an episode of May 2022, back when Perry was still a part of the show, a special Disney Night episode aired as Perry dressed up as Ariel from 'The Little Mermaid.'



 

Donning a bright red wig and a massive green fin, the cosplay was so accurate, even the live-action movie would fail in front of it. However, this is where things went wrong. In a truly hilarious moment, as Ryan Seacrest was speaking on stage, Perry suddenly toppled backwards in her chair. This was likely due to her legs being confined inside the fin, which restricted her movement. The crowd erupted in laughter as Luke Bryan, barely containing his own, grabbed the pop star with one arm as Lionel Richie reached for the other arm as the two picked the pop star back to her feet.


 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by KATY PERRY (@katyperry)


 

All this while, Seacrest rushed to the judges' table to help Perry and asked, "Are you okay? Are you okay?" To which Katy answered, "Yes." As the trio all worked together to pick Perry up, she smiled and waved at the camera, holding on to the iconic fork from the animated movie in her other hand. As the star finally got up, everyone rose to their feet and chanted "Katy!" in unison. Perry even uploaded the entire clip of her fall on her Instagram with the caption "Flippin’ your fins, you don’t get too far. Swipe to see what almost accidentally killed @lionelrichie 🫣#americanidol."


 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by KATY PERRY (@katyperry)


 

The artist even uploaded the video of how she got into the beautiful costume, tagging everyone part of the crew who helped her, as reported by People. The costume was quite limiting in movement from the beginning. This was showcased in the last slide, which had a hilarious video of Bryan and Richie rolling Perry onto the stage in a two-wheeled dolly with the caption "Some BTS of a lil Sunday sushi #americanidol."



 

In one of the images, you could even see Perry's beloved dog, Nugget, dressed as Flounder, Ariel's best friend from 'The Little Mermaid.' Surprisingly, this is not the first time Perry is dressing up as a Disney character on 'Idol.' The 'E.T.' singer has gone on to dress as Tinker Bell, Snow White, and even Ariel's arch nemesis, Ursula, all with purple face paint and a sequined black and purple tentacled ensemble.

GET THE BIGGEST ENTERTAINMENT STORIES
STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX.

MORE STORIES

Flossie’s conversations with Jukebox and Raq set off decisions that reshape Kanan’s life and connect the series to ‘Power: Origins.’
2 hours ago
‘Stuart Fails to Save the Universe’ episode 3 sees two familiar faces, but their alternate-universe roles lead to a deadly confrontation.
4 hours ago
Apple TV+ will screen 'Widow's Bay' in AMC theaters, and here's why this event makes things historic for the streamer.
4 hours ago
Episode 3 puts Stuart's life at risk as a magical universe brings shocking twists and familiar faces, with a major role for Bert.
6 hours ago
Jake T Austin starred as Max Russo in the original series ‘Wizards of Waverly Place’ alongside Selena Gomez and David Henrie
11 hours ago
Luke Mitchell's social media story has seemingly confirmed that fans will see a familiar face return to Season 12
13 hours ago
The release date for ‘Emily in Paris’ Season 6 has not been announced yet but it is expected to premiere sometime in late 2026
14 hours ago
Iain Armitage's Sheldon Cooper’s absence still fits the franchise timeline, but the door remains open for a return when the story calls for it
23 hours ago
The legal drama begins with a celebrity divorce before shifting to a defamation case led by three new cast members.
1 day ago
Season 3 of the Netflix drama wraps up as it revisits its central love triangle exploring emotional stakes and unresolved tensions
1 day ago