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Kelly Clarkson has recently leveled a serious accusation against “American Idol,” alleging that the show misled her about a $1 million prize she was supposed to receive after winning the inaugural season of the singing competition.
During a recent episode of “The Kelly Clarkson Show,” the 43-year-old, known for hits like “Since U Been Gone,” made this startling revelation while chatting with guests Daniel Radcliffe, from the “Harry Potter” series, and reality star Rob Rausch.
The conversation turned to unpaid winnings when Rausch mentioned that he had yet to receive his $220,800 prize from Season 4 of “The Traitors.” This prompted Clarkson to share her own experience.
“I completely understand your situation!” Clarkson exclaimed. “I can relate so intensely. You probably weren’t even born when I was on ‘American Idol,’ but I was literally on that show.”
The “Breakaway” singer suggested that the promises made during the show about her prize didn’t align with the reality she faced afterward.
“They were like, ‘Oh, you win a million dollars,’ or whatever,” Clarkson said. “No, you didn’t. They lied. It was like a million dollars’ worth of investment in you.”
Radcliffe looked stunned and cut in: “Wait, what?”
“Yes!” Clarkson insisted, adding that she also never received another major prize she thought she had won.
“They said you get a car,” she explained. “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.”
Clarkson then claimed that Clay Aiken, who finished runner-up on the show’s second season, did end up getting a car.
“Clay Aiken, who didn’t win the second season, got a car — and [so did] his mom!” she told the audience as the crowd erupted in disbelief.
“I was like, ‘What the f–k!’” Clarkson added, recalling a conversation with the singer at the time. “He’s like, ‘Yeah, they gave my mom one.’ I was like, ‘I’m gonna actually kick your ass right now.’”
Radcliffe joked that early winners of a show should receive upgraded prizes if the rewards improve later.
“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,” he said.
Clarkson pushed back, insisting the rewards had already been promised at the time.
“No, it was supposed to be the prize then, OK? It was supposed to be the prize then!” she said.
She then jokingly warned Rausch he might also be waiting a while for his payout.
“That’s why I’m saying — you might not see it,” Clarkson quipped. “But, you know, I hope you got enough TV time.”
Clarkson famously won the inaugural season of “American Idol” in 2002, launching a chart-topping career with hits including “A Moment Like This,” “Behind These Hazel Eyes,” and “Because of You.”
In September, the singer reflected on the 23rd anniversary of her win, thanking fans who voted for her during the show’s early days.
“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 wrote on social media.
She added, “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.”
The candid comments come shortly after Clarkson announced she would be stepping away from her NBC daytime talk show after seven seasons to spend more time with her children, River, 11, and Remington, 9.
Her decision followed a difficult year after the death of her ex-husband, Brandon Blackstock, who died in August following a battle with cancer.