Katy Perry tells ‘American Idol’ hopeful she ‘accepts’ him after revealing his parents cannot accept his sexuality
Jeremiah Lloyd Harmon continues to wow judges with his performances
By Steve Brown
Katy Perry tells a gay American Idol contestant that she ‘accepts’ him after he revealed his parents cannot accept his sexuality.
Jeremiah Lloyd Harmon first wowed the judges – including Perry, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan – with an original song about being accepted into Heaven because he is gay.
And in the recent episode of the competition, Harmon was flown out to Hawaii with the other hopefuls to perform in front of a live crowd.
While the other hopefuls had their parents and family cheering from the audience, Harmon’s were absent, and the former church janitor opened up about his parent’s acceptance.
He said: “My parents still have not been able to accept me being gay.
“I’m no longer working as a janitor at my dad’s church. I decided to move out and that was a difficult choice to make. I felt like it was the healthiest thing for me to do.
“Being a part of this show has been good for me in one way, but it has also been a big challenge for me.”
“I’ve just got to keep telling myself that I can do this. I’m doing this for me, I’m doing this for everyone who has been outcast by their loved ones.
“I know that this isn’t just my experience, and if I can be open about it and vulnerable, maybe that could bring hope to somebody else.”
After performing Fleetwood Mac’s hit song ‘Landslide’, Perry – who is also a child of a church pastor – gave some kind words to the hopeful.
She said: “You’re a pastor’s kid, I’m a pastor’s kid, we have a lot in common.
“I don’t know about you, but for me I felt like I was always being watched… and then I started to find my true voice.
“Can you imagine when my first single was ‘I Kissed a Girl’ and how my parents reacted?
“It was difficult for me because I felt very alone in what is supposed to be a really exciting time in my life. It’s taken some time, but we’ve all come around to agree to disagree.
“I just want to say from one pastor’s kid to another that I see you, and I love you and I accept you. And I’m so proud of you.
“I’m excited that you’re going to continue the journey with us to the Top 20!”
Watch the performance below: