American Idol is one of the most popular reality shows globally. Starting in 2002, the reality show has had a good run, with fans remaining devoted to the show that continues to inspire singing talents across the world.’
American Idol has produced some of the music industry’s brightest stars, including the likes of Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Adam Lambert, and Jennifer Hudson. Its viewership has remained consistently high, with audiences rooting for their favorites each season. The show has been a platform for aspiring singers who can take to the stage and show the world what they have to offer. American Idol has shaped popular culture by introducing new trends, influencing music tastes, and has overall become an integral part of the American music industry.
Throughout its run, it has also welcomed influential judges to appear on the show, like Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul, Jennifer Lopez, Luke Bryan, and Lionel Richie. Despite its success and popularity, it is not free from controversy. More than once, American Idol has made the news due to some brewing incident. Conflicts between judges, rude contestants, contestant conflicts, supposed unfair judgments, and the results being rigged. Like anything popular, the reality TV show has faced its fair share of controversy.
Recently the show completed another season in 2023. This was the show’s twenty-first season. Lionel Richie, Katy Perry, and Luke Bryan made their comeback as the judges of the show. It began premiering on 19th February 2023, and soon after the finals, the winner was announced. Iam Tongi was crowned the winner and Megan Danielle became the runner-up for the season. This should have been one of the happiest days of Tongi’s life, which it rightfully was until the new winner started to get caught in the American Idol 2023 winner controversy. It seems that not all were happy with the judgment. Here is what happened.
Also Read: What Happened To Nutsa On American Idol? Explained
Who is Iam Tongi?
Iam hailed from Kahuku, Hawaii, and was the youngest of five children. He originally auditioned in the American Idol Season 2022 but was not selected. He did not want to attempt it again, but Iam’s mother signed him up.
During his audition, he became teary-eyed while talking about his father. He explained to the judges that his dad, Rodney, had passed a few months before the audition. It was all the more painful for him as his dad was the one who helped him gain interest in music and was unfortunately no longer there to witness his audition. Iam also explained that he was not planning to talk about his father because he did not want to be mistaken for a pity selection.
If anyone has witnessed Tongi’s audition, they know it is far from a simple sob-story selection. He sang a rendition of James’s blunt ‘Monster’ and dedicated it to his father. His rendition bought tears to the eyes of whoever watched. He earned a standing ovation from all the judges and received a unanimous vote for the next round. Yet it somehow seems that his plans not to be reduced to a sob story did not work as well as he had hoped they would.
See Also: American Idol 2023 Winner Iam Tongi Makes History
American Idol Winner 2023 Controversy
Making history, 18-year-old Iam Tongi became the first Pacific islander to win the show. While some viewers praised him and rejoiced in his victory, others did not seem to agree. Many viewers of the show have taken to social media to talk about how they thought that the vote was rigged. Fans who had been rooting for other contestants felt that the judges, as well as the votes, had placed more value on sympathy than on talent. There has been no valid evidence to suggest a rigging other than fan speculation.
Many have spoken about how the reason Tongi won was because he had the best sob story. In a recent interview Iam responded to the backlash he faced. He acknowledged the difference of opinion about his win. He explained that he truly believes that everyone is entitled to their opinion. He talked about how his father told him that not everyone would like his music, and Iam keeps that in mind as the backlash happens. He is now embracing the controversy, it seems, as he begins to make future plans for his music career. Tongi’s fans cannot wait to see more of him.
Also Read: RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars Season 8 Episode 3: Release Date, Preview & How to Watch
