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May 25, 2023 | 6:33 p.m
American Idol winner Iam Tongi says he’s enjoying the “drama” of the “rigged” allegations surrounding his season 21 win.
“Many people say: ,[Runner-up] “Colin Stough got robbed” or whatever. And I just love it,” he told the Chron in an interview published on Thursday.
The 18-year-old singer went on to say his late father Rodney Tongi – who died in 2021 – prepared him for any public exam should his music succeed.
“My father always told me that your music is not for everyone. There will be people who won’t like it and that’s okay, that’s normal,” he explained.
“Everyone gets their own opinion. Everyone is allowed to think what they think. So it’s ok.”
American Idol winner Iam Tongi hasn’t let ‘manipulation’ allegations get him down. ABC “A lot of people say:”[Runner-up] “Colin Stough got robbed” or whatever. And I just love it,” he told the Chron. ABC
It is said that he often showers his haters with kindness as a coping strategy.
‘I just like’ [the comments]whatever they say cause you know [I gotta] Let these things happen,” he shared.
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“I’m guilty because I like it. But look, [my] Music isn’t for everyone. And I have to learn that the hard way.”
Tongi made history as the first Hawaiian to win “American Idol” in the show’s 21-year history. ABC
On Sunday, Iam – who is of Tongan and Samoan descent – became the first Hawaiian to win “American Idol” since the competition reality show debuted in the summer of 2002.
A large segment of viewers claimed the entire competition was “rigged” in the high school senior’s favor and that his victory was due to a “sympathy vote”.
Iam told judges Katy Perry, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan that he lost his father to stage IV kidney disease a few months before his audition. He used his father’s guitar at every gig until it broke mid-season.
A large segment of viewers claimed the entire competition was “rigged” in the high school senior’s favor and that his victory was due to a “sympathy vote”. ABC
An online critic tweeted this while I am “had the best sob story” The competition should have focused on talent.
Another polarizing aspect of American Idol season 21 was Perry’s performance as a judge. While many viewers found her criticism harsh, Iam told the Chron he’s enjoyed interacting with the pop superstar.
“[All the judges] are so funny and we had a lot of fun with them while I was on Idol,” he said, adding that he thinks Perry, 38, should stay there.
Tongi also commented on Katy Perry’s recent performance as a judge on the series. ABC via Getty Images
“Support [Katy] there and love [she] the participants would be missing. I would miss Katy [if she left].”
The “Firework” singer is reportedly stepping down as a judge on “Idol” because she feels misrepresented by the show.
According to the Chron, Perry believes she has been repeatedly “snubbed” by producers who she believes edited the show to portray her as an “evil judge”.
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