Katy Perry grills singers who forgot lyrics, 'American Idol' fans say 'cut them for this fiasco'

Before Zachariah and Isaac's duet, Katy Perry asked the pianist to stop as she noticed they were reading lyrics from their phones
Zachariah and Isaac forgot the lyrics to their song but Katy Perry encouraged them to sing without looking at their phones singers (ABC)
Zachariah and Isaac forgot the lyrics to their song but Katy Perry encouraged them to sing without looking at their phones singers (ABC)

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: On Monday, April 3, 2023, Zachariah Smith and Isaac Brown performed the song 'Body Roll Boys' on 'American Idol' Season 21 Hollywood Week Duets. Although the singers advanced in the competition, there were some obvious difficulties for the aspiring singers, leaving fans skeptical about their future on the show.

The duos are there to make you pause and take notice. Fans will find out tonight if these contestants can work together to guarantee they both (or more) advance to the next round. The live shows are just a few cuts away, so every note and every decision counts. Given Zachariah and Isaac's difficulties in the last performance, fans are skeptical about their future.

RELATED ARTICLES

'Bad judgment': Internet slams 'American Idol' judges for sending Carina home, say 'Nutsa set her up'

Katy Perry says the show's over after Lucy Love’s stunning performance, ‘American Idol’ fans agree with her



 

Katy Perry stops Isaac and Zachariah mid-performance

Isaac and Zacharias could not remember their lines, no matter how many times they practiced. Katy them instructs them to put their cell phones aside. Zach bursts into tears because he is so distraught.

When Katy notices both of the boys on their phones, she yells at the pianist to "Stop!" at the commencement of Zachariah and Isaac's performance. "You gotta call to make?" Katy comments sarcastically. Isaac told the judges that the two need their phones because they don't know the words. "Just sing," Katy says emphatically.

Since Zachariah and Isaac don't know the lines to Elton John's 'I'm Still Standin,' they made up their own lyrics. "I'm still standing after all this time, forgetting all my lines," Zachariah sings. Despite their initial skepticism, the judges rise up and applaud midway through the performance.

"We are now eliminating great talent," Lionel Richie informs the pair. Lionel informs Isaac that Zachariah "mumbled" and that his energy surpassed his vocals. However, both performers have advanced to the next round! "We thought we were going home," Isaac said as Zachariah burst into tears as he exited the platform.

'You kept IDIOTS who forgot 80% of the lyrics'

Seeing the trainwreck of a performance from the duo, a viewer tweeted, "Zachariah needs to go home please lmao." Calling the duo lucky, a fan tweeted, "Isaac has great energy but not the greatest voice. Zacharia has a great voice. They are both lucky to be going through." One viewer wrote, "Isaac sounded terrible though." Slamming the judges for putting them through, an angry fan wrote, "Seriously #AmericanIdol ?? You kept two IDIOTS who forgot 80% of the lyrics and then you somehow let one of a really good country duo go?!? Da fu*ck!!"



 



 



 



 

One fan tweeted, "These judges are too nice. I would've sent them both home since they forgot the words." Another person mocked, "these… got on the stage with their phones because they forgot the lyrics and expected to be able to stand up there reading off their phones!" Calling the performance a train wreck, a fan wrote, "Why would you pick a song that you don't know the lyrics to? What a train wreck." Calling the show a joke, a viewer wrote, "I'm sorry but this show became a joke to me once they passed through 2 guys that did not know the lyrics."



 



 



 



 

One Redditor wrote, "I like Zachariah and Isaac a lot, but they should both be cut for this fiasco." Another person chimed in, "This is painful!" One Redditor added, "I'm glad Zachariah made it but they really should have both gone lol."

'American Idol' Season 21 airs every Sunday and Monday at 8.pm ET on ABC.

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.

GET THE BIGGEST ENTERTAINMENT STORIES
STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX.

MORE STORIES

Mary Camden, aka Jessica Biel, talks about the storylines and the safe set she wants around the Camdens
2026-10-26T09:57:21.000Z
The show has adapted two of Jack Carr's novels so far, and the third book sends Reece to a ranch
2026-10-26T09:14:16.000Z
Show creator Erin Foster explains how her own marriage could shape Joanne and Noah’s future
2026-10-26T05:32:46.000Z
‘Tracker’ Season 4 introduces Brian Stepanek as Elias Williams, a religious fanatic whose disturbing actions lead Colter Shaw to a missing woman and a dark family secret
2026-10-26T04:57:18.000Z
After Cal finds a lead, the team is sent to investigate the potential threat, ending with a dangerous cliffhanger.
2026-10-26T04:29:43.000Z
Eddie and Susie plan a casino in the Middle East as the Netflix series returns with a changed cast.
2026-10-24T16:38:18.000Z
An unanswered call sends Sean’s girlfriend to the precinct after news of a police shooting.
2026-10-24T14:03:15.000Z
In an exclusive interview, Donnie Wahlberg shares whether Tom Selleck is open to working in ‘Boston Blue’
2026-10-24T08:19:19.000Z
‘Fire Country’ welcomes a Grammy-winning artist to Smokey's in their latest episode
2026-10-24T06:24:48.000Z
Episode 3 of ‘Sheriff Country’ delves deeper into Eva Santos's (Rachel Ticotin) past
2026-10-24T05:05:00.000Z