Posted on 03/12/2026 9:13:45 AM PDT by simpson96
Kelly Clarkson called out 'lying' American Idol over a shock snub - over two decades after being the first winner of the reality singing competition.
The 43-year-old star - who recently broke her silence on quitting her daytime talk series - got candid about the topic during Tuesday's episode of The Kelly Clarkson Show.
She had been joined by guests Daniel Radcliffe as well as the season four winner of The Traitors, Rob Rausch.
When Clarkson asked Rausch about his prize of $220,800, the Love Island alum revealed to the Breakaway songstress that he is still awaiting the payment.
'You know what, I relate to this!' the music artist expressed. 'I relate to this so hardcore. You probably weren't alive when I was on American Idol but I was literally on the show.
She added, 'And they were like, "Oh, you win a million dollars," or whatever. No, you didn't. They lied. It was, like, a million dollars worth of investment in you.'
The Harry Potter actor quickly interrupted with, 'Wait, what?' while Clarkson insisted with, 'Yes!'
The performer continued, 'And then they said you get a car. And I needed it because my car was bashed in and I couldn't afford the deductible. And then - no! I did not get a car.'
(Excerpt) Read more at msn.com ...
I am no fan of whiny, entitled celebrities in any way.
But she has a fair point in this case.
At that time, there was no guarantee her career was going to take off. Bait and switch is slimy BS no matter who it happens to.
Lying, crooked, media and entertainment companies have been screwing people over for decades.
Ok. Have a good one!
:)
Her comments sound fine when in the context of the article, she was just talking, not so much “bitching” for the people who skipped reading what she was describing and to whom.
“...she should be using her experience advising young people about hollywierd’s liars, perverts, abusers, thieves and broken promises.”
That’s the truth. I once read that if you want to make it in Hollywood, you have to quite literally sell your soul - emotionally, financially and sexually. And even then, there’s no chance of making it big.
It seems like Hollywood has been this way for decades and decades. It’s not a new thing.
Really it was mostly her, once season 2 started they pretty much discarded her (and have continued to run that cycle, the winner tour largely exists to advertise next season, and then they actively tamp down on last year’s people because they don’t want them distracting from the show). She was in the “where are they now” column for a while. Sure name recognition helped her some, but she pretty much had to build her own career. Just look at how few other Idol winners have anything going 2 or 3 years later. Her and Adam Lambert are pretty much the only ones, and if Queen hadn’t adopted Lambert he probably doesn’t manage to do much either.
You think because she has money now, she should have been taken advantage of back then? That is some messed up logic.
Make a promise, keep a promise.
Still not enough to make her a noteworthy star. I think she has one song in 20 plus years.
Yeah, Hollywood is kayfabe just like pro wrestling. It’s why you have an agent to also screw you. The music industry is the same way. In that whole realm, the ends justifies the means.
Was this a written contract?
If nothing else she should have learned that show business is full of crooks, always has been, always will be.
Over the years many recording artists were screwed over, way before you came on to the scene.
You get it.
+1
“Sure, name recognition helped her some, but she pretty much had to build her own career. Just look at how few other Idol winners have anything going 2 or 3 years later.
Fair point.
+1
“Considering he successes since American idol, I wouldn’t be bitching if I were her.”
Maybe, just maybe, her success was do to her TALENT and NOT the American Idol “investment”.
I like her. I think she’s talented. And she made the best out of being young and broke the the breaks she got along the way. I especially like her duet with Reba...sung a LONG time ago, LOL!
American Idol is where she got her 1st national exposure......if not for that she may have been just another also ran.
Clarkson and Radcliff are both biting the hands that fed them. Ungrateful wretches.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.