Simon Cowell was known for being a harsh “American Idol” judge, but he may have gone too far with an insult aimed at season two runner-up Clay Aiken.
HOLLYWOOD, CA – NOVEMBER 29: Recording artist Clay Aiken performs onstage during the 2015 Hollywood Christmas Parade on November 29, 2015 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Mike Windle/Getty Images for The Hollywood Christmas Parade)
In an interview with TV Insider, Aiken was told today’s “Idol” judges “are much kinder than OG judge Simon Cowell,” to which Aiken responded, “He called me ugly. Is that what you’re saying?”
Yup, Cowell called Aiken ugly on national television. After one of Aiken’s final performances on the competition show, Cowell said in his feedback, “What’s astonishing is how handsome this show has made you. You look back on those early clips, I’m not being rude, but you really were ugly then and now you’re handsome.”
And yes, Cowell thought he was giving Aiken a compliment.
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – OCTOBER 26: Clay Aiken attends the 2019 Politicon at Music City Center on October 26, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Ed Rode/Getty Images for Politicon)
Today, the “On My Way Here” singer can look back on the moment with grace and understanding. “Simon came from a world where it was all about the image, not necessarily looks. It was all about the image,” he said. “In my audition, he said that I didn’t look like a pop star, but that I had a great voice. I think there was an interesting quandary about whether or not America was going to vote for the best singers or are they going to vote for the people who look like pop stars.”
He continued, “So, it you looked at [Season 2’s] Top 12, you know Carmen Rasmusen – gorgeous! Trenyce, gorgeous! Kimberly Caldwell, gorgeous! And then you had me, and well, [winner] Ruben [Studdard], who was a big guy. Kimberley Locke was a full-figured girl, who was not necessarily a pop star [in terms of looks], but arguably, a good singer.”
NEW YORK, NY – DECEMBER 03: Clay Aiken attends the “Once On This Island” Broadway Opening Night at Circle in the Square Theatre on December 3, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images)
To be clear, Aiken isn’t randomly thinking about Cowell’s insult every day. “I watched some old clips last year. That’s how I remembered he called me ugly,” he explained. “I listened to some of the things he’d said, and I thought, ‘Holy, s–t!’ Did I block it out psychologically? I don’t remember if he had said some mean things. But [the contestants] had a good relationship with him.”
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