Comedian Nikki Glaser turned a high-profile gala moment into a headline when she took aim at Katy Perry during the 2026 Time100 event in New York City, delivering a joke that quickly resonated amid the singer’s ongoing controversy.
Addressing Gayle King from the stage, Glaser said, “You had the courage to do something that so many people wouldn’t have the guts to do: Spend 12 minutes alone with Katy Perry,” before adding, “We thank you for that.”
According to The Daily Beast, Glaser also joked about King’s participation in a widely publicized all-female spaceflight, saying, “What really blows my mind is that we have actual astronauts here tonight… and by astronaut, of course, I’m talking about Gayle King.”
Glaser’s remarks come as Perry faces renewed scrutiny following allegations made by actress Ruby Rose, who claimed on social media that the singer sexually assaulted her at a Melbourne nightclub in 2010. The accusation has prompted widespread discussion and brought renewed attention to past public comments involving Perry.
Among them is a resurfaced 2014 interview featuring Anna Kendrick, who described a “weird” encounter with Perry at the Grammy Awards that year. Speaking on a late-night talk show, Kendrick said, “Katy Perry finger-banged my cleavage. It was a weird night,” recalling an interaction that drew laughter from the audience at the time.
She also described Perry as “aggressive,” while framing the moment as unexpected during a red-carpet appearance in a plunging gown.
Rose, meanwhile, alleged that Perry initiated unwanted contact during a night out in Australia, writing that she later downplayed the incident publicly. “After it I threw up on her, I told the story publicly but changed it to be a ‘funny little drunk story’ because I didn’t know how else to handle it,” she said.
If you or someone you know has experienced sexual assault, help is available through the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800-656-4673 or online through RAINN.
