American Idol fans have slammed ‘cruel’ Katy Perry.

During Sunday night’s instalment of the talent competition, viewers were unhappy with the pop star for ‘tricking’ contestants into thinking they were being sent home.

Katy first told various Top 24 singers they weren’t going through to add ‘extra drama,’ before revealing that they were in fact successfully continuing onto the next round.

The American Idol episode saw the first of the two-night Showstoppers round, where the remaining 48 contestants were whittled down to a Top 24.

Each performed with a live band for the first time, singing for their last chance to make it through to America’s vote.

Nutsa was the third singer to take to the stage, with judges revealing that things were ‘rocky’ already because she had ‘slept through’ practicing for the duets.

Cruel! American Idol fans slammed ‘cruel’ Katy Perry for ‘tricking’ contestants into thinking they were being sent home, during Sunday night’s instalment

What’s happening? Katy told Nutsa: ‘We have really appreciated you being in this competition. And we did not put you in the Top 24… YOU put yourself in that top 24’

Confusion: It was apparent Nutsa was perplexed, so Katy attempted to clarify further, adding: ‘We didn’t put you in there, you did. As confusing as it seems you’re going to the top 24!’

Nutsa gave a sensational rendition of Proud Mary by Tina Turner, with Katy then telling her: ‘We have really appreciated you being in this competition. And we did not put you in the Top 24.’

Emotional background music played as a devastated Nuspa whispered: ‘It’s okay’ while beginning to tear up.

After a long pause, she looked around the stage wondering what to do next, when Katy finally added: ‘YOU put yourself in that top 24. Nutsa, you put yourself in that top 24 with your incredible talent!’

It was apparent that Nutsa was perplexed, so Katy attempted to clarify further, adding: ‘We didn’t put you in there, you did. As confusing as it seems you’re going to the top 24!’

Elsewhere in the episode, Katy put Zacaharia Smith through a similar experience, when she told the contestant: ‘You will be going home…. to pack your bags to come back to the top 24!’

American Idol viewers were left unimpressed, taking to social media to voice their displeasure with the ‘mean’ tactic.

One fan tweeted: ‘Is it just me or does it bug anyone else that Katy Perry keeps trolling people about whether they made it to the top 24 or not?

‘I feel it’s cruel to make them think they aren’t going through….. and then say, Yeah, you made it!’

Huh? Elsewhere, Katy put Zacaharia Smith through a similar experience, when she told the contestant: ‘You will be going home…. to pack your bags to come back to the top 24!’

Psychological warfare: American Idol viewers were left unimpressed, taking to social media to voice their displeasure with the ‘mean’ tactic

‘Katy Perry tries way to hard. Like get to the point girl. There is no need for the extra drama #AmericanIdol,’ added another.

Someone else insisted: ‘#AmericanIdol is getting ridiculous with trying to trick contestants to make them think they didn’t get into the top 24.’

‘Turned on american idol for s**ts and giggles tonight. why does katy perry commit psychological warfare every time she delivers the you made it through news,’ added another viewer.

SRC: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/