American Idol contestant Sara Beth Liebe has sensationally quit the competition – after judge Katy Perry received backlash for mocking the mother-of-three during her audition.
During the March 5 episode, Sara Beth shocked the judges when she revealed that she had given birth to three children before the age of 25 – leading Perry to quip the young mom had ‘spent too much time on the table’ in a widely-derided remark.
Sara chose to walk away from the competition to ‘be with her babies’ during Sunday’s Hollywood week episode – leaving judges and show producers in shock.
She had performed her first round song, The Police hit Roxanne, before telling judges Perry, Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie: ‘This opportunity is really rad, but this is actually going to be my last performance, because my heart’s at home.
‘So, I’m going get home to my babies. They kind of need me.’
Goodbye: American Idol contestant Sara Beth Liebe has sensationally quit the competition – after judge Katy Perry received backlash for mocking the mother-of-three during her audition (pictured with Clay Aiken)
Under fire: During the March 5 episode, Sara Beth shocked the judges when she revealed that she had given birth to three children before the age of 25 – leading Perry to quip the young mom had ‘spent too much time on the table’ in a widely-derided remark
Bryan branded the decision a ‘mistake’ while Perry begged for the mom to reconsider, with Sara responding: ‘I don’t even know what show business is. I’ve been a mom since I was 18. I’ve been married since I was 18. I don’t think I realized quite how hard it would be to be away from my kids.
‘They’re all still really young. There is a lot of guilt when you leave your kids to do something completely selfish. I feel like I’m not gonna win the show anyway, so I might as well go home.’
Perry said: ‘You’ve opened a door you never thought you would open, and you got a yes. You may get another yes in the future. Do not give up.
Sara said backstage: ‘I’m really humbled and grateful, and Katy had some really nice things to say. If my kids were a little older… I understand how big of an opportunity this is, but I still kinda wanna go home.’
‘I don’t think I realized quite how hard it would be to be away from my kids. They’re still really young. There’s a lot of guilt that comes when you leave your kids to do something completely selfish.’
Sharing a TikTok video after her exit was confirmed, Sara revealed she’d had a panic attack shortly after her first audition.
She wrote: ‘A lot of people don’t realize that I was scouted to audition. They reached out to me. And I’m so grateful. I’ve never had this much support with singing. And it’s mind-blowing and so humbling and has made me realize how badly I want to do music.
‘Six months ago, I didn’t know that yet. But I’m also allowed to make hard choices that are best for me.’
This comes after Sara spoke out on the incident with Perry which sparked mass outrage.
When she revealed she had welcomed three kids before turning 25, Katy, 38, pretended as though she was going to faint, which prompted Sara Beth to say: ‘If Katy lays on the table, I think I’m going to pass out.’
Katy – who is a mother, herself – then quipped: ‘Honey, you been laying on the table too much.’
In a new TikTok, the aspiring singer admitted that she found the joke ‘hurtful’ and went on to discourage others from taking part in ‘mom shaming.’
‘At the start of my audition before I sang, I mentioned that I had three children and was a young mother and Katy Perry made a joke that wasn’t super kind,’ began Sara Beth, as transcribed by JustJared.
‘I don’t have too much to say on my feelings about it because it’s probably pretty self explanatory.’
Speaking out: American Idol contestant Sara said it was ’embarrassing’ to hear Perry’s remarks
Wow: Sharing a TikTok video after her exit was confirmed, Sara revealed she’d had a panic attack shortly after her first audition
Nervous: During the audition, Sara Beth appeared to be incredibly nervous as she stood in front of Katy and fellow judges Lionel Richie, 73, and Luke Bryan, 46
She continued: ‘It was embarrassing to have that on TV. And it was hurtful and, you know, that’s that.
Sara Beth went on to encourage others to uplift women and spoke directly other young mothers who have reached out to her in support.
‘But, I did want to take this opportunity to say that I think that women supporting and uplifting other women is so cool and I think that mom shaming is super lame.
‘And I think that it’s hard enough to be a mom and it’s hard enough to be a woman. I wanted to take this opportunity to say I see all of the young moms and just moms in general who have commented on all of the videos and posts… I see you and I hear you and I am grateful for you.
‘Keep loving your babies. Nobody deserves to feel crappy about that. I think if you’re a good mama and you love your babies that’s all that really matters and other comments don’t feel necessary,’ concluded Sara Beth.
According to her TikTok, Sara Beth welcomed her first child at age 18.
For the most part, she keeps her three children off social media and has not disclosed any details about their ages or genders.