Perry and Groban briefly dated in 2009 before ending their relationship privately and remaining on good terms
Katy Perry has sparked online discussion after appearing to react to Josh Groban’s engagement with a humorous social media post referencing her hit song “The One That Got Away”.
The singer shared a video of herself pretending to cry while listening to the track shortly after reports emerged that Groban is engaged to musical theatre actress Natalie McQueen.
Fans quickly linked the post to Perry’s previous comments about the singer and actor, whom she once described as “the one that got away”.
Perry and Groban briefly dated in 2009 before ending their relationship privately and remaining on good terms. The pair rarely discussed the romance publicly until Perry referenced it during a 2017 interview, leading fans to speculate that “The One That Got Away” had been inspired by Groban.
The following year, Groban addressed the comments during an appearance on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen.
“I was not expecting that,” Groban said. “That was a double take and a spit of my coffee when I saw that. It’s very sweet of her to say that. I’m very flattered by it. But I was very surprised by it too.”
Despite the speculation, Groban joked that parts of the song’s lyrics did not appear to match his real life.
“I listened to the lyrics of the song,” he said. “And I’m like, ‘I never owned a Mustang. I don’t have a tattoo. Are you sure that’s about me?’”
Groban also explained that the relationship ended amicably because both preferred to keep their private lives away from public attention.
“We were both very private and we realized we were better as friends,” he said. “She’s the best.”
The exchange has also reignited interest in one of Perry’s most commercially successful heartbreak ballads more than a decade after its release.
