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.’
Kelly Clarkson called out ‘lying’ American Idol over a shock snub – over two decades after being the first winner of the reality singing competition
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.’
The mom-of-two then added that the runner-up on the second season of American Idol, Clay Aiken, had gotten a car.
‘And then Clay Aiken, who didn’t win the second season, got a car and his mom!’ she exclaimed to the live audience as some of the crowd erupted into disbelief.
Rausch shook his head and said, ‘Unbelievable,’ while the singer added, ‘I was like, “What the f***!”
‘I remember Clay telling me that the second season. He’s like, “Yeah, they gave my mom one.” I was like, “I’m gonna actually kick your a** right now.”‘
Radcliffe also shared his thoughts by saying, ‘There should be some system where if you win something on the first season of something, whatever the prize has become, you should retroactively get that.’
Clarkson further expressed, ‘No, it was supposed to be the prize then, okay? It was supposed to be the prize then!’
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’
‘And then Clay Aiken, who didn’t win the second season, got a car and his mom!’ she exclaimed to the live audience as some of the crowd erupted into disbelief; Aiken seen in 2024 in Atlanta
Rausch shook his head and said, ‘Unbelievable,’ while the singer added, ‘I was like, “What the f***!”‘
Clarkson further expressed, ‘No, it was supposed to be the prize then, okay? It was supposed to be the prize then!’
She then humorously turned to Rausch and jokingly quipped, ‘That’s why I’m saying, you might not see it. You might not see it. But, you know, I hope you got enough TV time.’
Daily Mail has reached out to reps of Clarkson, but did not immediately hear back.
Clarkson had been the first winner of American Idol in 2002 which was then followed by the star releasing hit tracks such as A Moment Like This, Behind These Hazel Eyes and Because Of You.
Last year in September, the singer notably reflected on the 23rd anniversary since winning the competition show.
Alongside a throwback snap from her time on the series, she penned in the caption: ‘To everyone that took time 23 years ago to call in and vote for me, thank you.
‘Winning American Idol changed my life and I will be forever grateful for all of you that have supported me for so many years.’
She concluded with, ‘It is a gift to find your purpose and passion, and to be able to make a living doing it is the cherry on top. Thank you, always.’
Back in February, Clarkson shockingly announced she was quitting her NBC talk show after seven seasons.
Clarkson had been the first winner of American Idol in 2002 which was then followed by the star releasing hit tracks such as A Moment Like This, Behind These Hazel Eyes and Because Of You; seen on American Idol in 2002
Last year in September, the singer notably reflected on the 23rd anniversary since winning the competition show
The Stronger hitmaker explained she was stepping back from the show to ‘prioritize’ her two children and sent gratitude to the team she has worked with over the years.
Her ex-husband and the father of her two children Brandon Blackstock passed away last August following a battle with cancer.
She broke her silence on the exit during an appearance on the Today show shortly afterwards and admitted it was not an easy decision.
‘That’s what was really hard. The crew’s been incredible. It wasn’t that the show wasn’t doing well.’
The songstress added, ‘That’s what kind of sucked, it was like, everything was going well. That’s what was really hard. It was people’s jobs. We are family there as well.’
However, Clarkson expressed that her priority is her children River, 11, and son Remington, nine.
‘Well, I think everybody probably gets the timing. Our family life, the dynamic changed a bit and it has changed for a minute now.’
The singer also shared, ‘I know everybody thinks, “Oh she quit.” I’m like, “I still have other jobs. I’m still doing stuff.” There’s just too much on the plate. So I’m like, “You know what, it’s time to kind of pull back.”‘
Back in February, Clarkson shockingly announced she was quitting her NBC talk show after seven seasons
Fellow singer Pink had recently taken on guest hosting duties on The Kelly Clarkson Show – but denied that she was taking over full time; seen in 2024 in California
Fellow singer Pink had recently taken on guest hosting duties on The Kelly Clarkson Show – but denied that she was taking over full time.
‘Hi everybody,’ she said in a since-deleted Instagram video. ‘Just in a continuation of debunking all of the sources that we’ve got going on in the world. I’m not taking over the Kelly Clarkson Show.
‘I’m doing a fun thing for my buddy Kelly, because it’s a fun thing. If I wanted a talk show, I would not have to audition.’
The performer added, ‘I would just have one, and it would be amazing, not something I’m currently researching or looking for in my busy, busy, busy world.’
