KELLY Clarkson has slammed American Idol, accusing the show of ‘lying’ about the impressive $1 million prize winners get.
The pop star won the first ever season of American Idol in 2002, and was promised cold hard cash but 24 years later, she claims that was far from what she got.
Kelly, 43, invited The Traitors winner Rob Rausch to appear on her daytime TV show, The Kelly Clarkson Show to discuss his big win.
The Love Island USA star won $220,800, taking the prize money for himself instead of splitting it with co-star Maura Higgins, in the shocking Season 4 finale of the Peacock TV show.
He claims, however, that he’s still waiting on payment – a fact that left some fans stunned.
Kelly, however, was not surprised.
“You know what, I relate to this!” she shared.
“I relate to this so hardcore. You probably weren’t alive when I was on American Idol but I was literally on the show.
“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 into you.”
She went on to say the show made other promises as well that they didn’t make good on.
“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 didn’t get a car,” she revealed.
Someone on American Idol did, however.
“And then Clay Aiken, who didn’t win the second season, got a car and his mom!” Kelly said.
She added: “I was like, ‘What the f**k!’
“I remember Clay telling me that the second season. He’s like, ‘Yeah, they gave my mom one.’ I was like, ‘I’m actually gonna kick your a** right now.”
Daniel Radcliffe, who was guest appearing on the show alongside Rob, chimed in: “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.”
Kelly, however, wasn’t satisfied with the suggestion.
“No, it was supposed to be the prize then, OK? It was supposed to be the prize then!” she demanded.
She then turned to Rob, joking: “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.”
As previously reported, it is not uncommon for game and competition shows to delay releasing prize money.
In fact, many shows have a 30 to 90 day waiting period from the time the finale airs to when the winner gets their money.
Additionally, some shows release the prizes in payouts over time.
It’s unclear how Rob will receive his money, but he’s going to need it after dropping a massive sum on a Birkin bag for Maura, 35.
The snake wrangler famously promised her the pricy prize on The Traitors before he stabbed her in the back and took the money for himself.
