Katy Perry at the 2025 Vanity Fair Oscar Party hosted by Radhika Jones in Beverly Hills on March 2, 2025.
Chad Salvador/WWD
Katy Perry’s iconic ballad “The One That Got Away” is currently enjoying a massive revival thanks to a viral wave on TikTok. The timing couldn’t be more serendipitous, as the man widely believed to be the inspiration behind the track, Josh Groban, recently announced his engagement.
Embracing the narrative, the pop icon shared a humorous TikTok on Monday (May 11). In the clip, she playfully “weeps” over a headline regarding the opera singer’s engagement news. Adding to the comedic flair, she is seen dramatically sipping an oversized cocktail while looking forlorn, eventually letting the drink spill onto her bathrobe for effect.
Naturally, the video was underscored by her own hit, “The One That Got Away.” She kept the caption understated and clever: “congrats,” punctuated by a single champagne glass emoji.
Groban broke the news of his engagement to his partner, theatrical actress Natalie McQueen, this past April. “MY BEST FRIEND SAID YES!!!” he beamed in a post on Instagram.
Perry’s witty response is clearly lighthearted, especially considering her own thriving relationship with former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The pair began dating last year, and Perry has frequently spotlighted their bond with affectionate snapshots on social media.
Nevertheless, the lore remains that Groban is the titular “one” from her 2010 single. During a 2017 livestream with James Corden, Perry confirmed that the Teenage Dream track—which peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100—was indeed written about the Broadway performer, whom she dated briefly back in 2009.
“I was completely caught off guard,” Groban admitted during a 2018 appearance on Watch What Happens Live. “I nearly spit out my coffee. It’s an incredibly kind thing for her to say.”
This latest social media antics are part of a broader, strategic push by Perry’s team to revitalize the track. April saw the release of an extended director’s cut of the song’s cinematic music video, alongside an EP titled Thinking of the One That Got Away, which bundles the song with another resurgence hit from her catalog, “Thinking of You.”
Watch Katy Perry’s humorous TikTok reaction to the engagement news below.
@katyperry congrats 🥂
