Kelly Clarkson Throws Shade At Celebs Who Were ‘Rude’ To Her For ‘American Idol’ Fame

June 28, 2023
| No Comments

Even by today’s standards, those who win reality competition series are viewed as lowlings in the celebrity hierarchy.

For instance, Kelly Clarkson, the first-ever winner of “American Idol” in 2002, couldn’t name a single winner on the show from the past five years when Andy Cohen asked her if she could on “Watch What Happens Live” Tuesday night.

“Oh shit,” Clarkson laughed while trying to rack her brain for an answer. Eventually, she admitted: “No, I don’t have one.”

But Clarkson’s initial win could be seen as what gave talent competition series, which were very novel at the time, an air of legitimacy. After she won “American Idol,” Clarkson was able to carve out a solid music career for herself that garnered her multiple Grammy wins. Thanks to Clarkson’s success, other contestants who preceded her on the show during its early 2000s heyday — like Carrie Underwood, Jennifer Hudson and Katharine McPhee — were viewed as instant pop stars thanks in part to Clarkson becoming a bonafide musician in her own right.

Clarkson with fellow contestant Justin Guarini during the "American Idol" finale in 2002.
Clarkson with fellow contestant Justin Guarini during the “American Idol” finale in 2002.

Kevin Winter via Getty Images

But because Clarkson was somewhat of a reality competition pioneer, she admitted on her talk show in 2021 that other celebrities didn’t take her seriously when she first became famous, saying they were “rude” to her.

Well, when Cohen asked Clarkson to name some of these celebrities, Clarkson didn’t deliver the dirt — but she certainly served those smug stars a heaping helping of shade.

“I will say a lot of them ended up on shows like the one I’m from,” Clarkson said, presumably referring to these celebrities being judges or hosts on shows like “The Voice,” “America’s Got Talent” the rebooted “American Idol” or even “Dancing with the Stars.”

“It’s funny what money does,” Clarkson added.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/0_PCZNHo-Gw?rel=0&start=11&enablejsapi=1</div>","type":"video","meta":{"author":"Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen","author_url":"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCy6D16zE_mMEm1HVD20WFxA","cache_age":86400,"description":"Singer-songwriter & daytime talk show host Kelly Clarkson joins Andy Cohen for a captivating round of Plead The Fifth. As the game ensues, Kelly is not only asked to name a celebrity that had been less than kind to her following her American Idol victory, but also name an American Idol winner from the past five years. Additionally, the singer-songwriter opens up about dealing with food poisoning during live shows, likening her experience to the 2011 film Bridesmaids.nn►► Subscribe To WWHL: http://bravo.ly/WWHLSubnnWatch WWHL Sunday-Thursday:nWWHL Website: http://www.bravotv.com/watch-what-happens-livenFollow WWHL: https://twitter.com/BravoWWHLnLike WWHL: https://www.facebook.com/WatchWhatHappensLivenWWHL Tumblr: http://bravowwhl.tumblr.com/nn’Watch What Happens: Live’ is Bravo’s late-night, interactive talk show that features guests from the world of entertainment, politics, and pop culture. Hosted by Andy Cohen, the series includes lively debates on everything from fashion, the latest on everyone’s favorite Bravolebrities, and what celebrity is making headlines that week. Past guests who have joined Cohen in the Bravo Clubhouse include Sarah Jessica Parker, Tina Fey, Khloe Kardashian, Jennifer Lopez, Liam Neeson, Kelly Ripa, Jimmy Fallon, Anderson Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, and Lance Bass.nnWatch More Bravo:nBravo Website: http://www.bravotv.com/nBravo Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/videobybravonFollow Bravo: http://www.twitter.com/bravotvnLike Bravo: https://www.facebook.com/BRAVOnPin Bravo: http://www.pinterest.com/bravobybravonBravo Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/bravotvnBravo Tumblr: http://bravotv.tumblr.com/","options":{"_cc_load_policy":{"label":"Closed captions","value":false},"_end":{"label":"End on","placeholder":"ex.: 11, 1m10s","value":""},"_start":{"label":"Start from","placeholder":"ex.: 11, 1m10s","value":"11"},"click_to_play":{"label":"Hold load & play until clicked","value":false}},"provider_name":"YouTube","thumbnail_height":720,"thumbnail_url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/0_PCZNHo-Gw/maxresdefault.jpg","thumbnail_width":1280,"title":"Kelly Clarkson Plays Plead The Fifth | WWHL","type":"video","url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_PCZNHo-Gw","version":"1.0"},"flags":[],"enhancements":{},"fullBleed":false,"options":{"theme":"news","device":"desktop","editionInfo":{"id":"us","name":"U.S.","link":"https://www.huffpost.com","locale":"en_US"},"slideshowAd":{"scriptTags":[],"otherHtml":""},"slideshowEndCard":{"scriptTags":[],"otherHtml":""},"isMapi":false,"isAmp":false,"isVideoEntry":false,"isEntry":true,"isMt":false,"entryId":"649c5564e4b01c46134cf5e9","entryPermalink":"https://www.huffpost.com/entry/kelly-clarkson-celebs-rude-after-american-idol-win_n_649c5564e4b01c46134cf5e9","entryTagsList":"reality-tv,american-idol,kelly-clarkson,@ai_seo_headline,@us_huffpost_now","sectionSlug":"entertainment","deptSlug":"entertainment","sectionRedirectUrl":"https://www.huffpost.com/entertainment","subcategories":"","isWide":false,"headerOverride":null,"noVideoAds":false,"disableFloat":false,"isNative":false,"commercialVideo":{"provider":"custom","site_and_category":"us.entertainment","package":null},"isHighline":false,"vidibleConfigValues":{"cid":"60afc111dcf87c2cd2f5d8bf","overrides":{"front_page_top_videos":{"desktop":"60b64354b171b7444beaff4d","mobileweb":"60b64354b171b7444beaff4d"},"top_media":{"desktop":"60b8e6bdc5449357a7ada147","mobile":"60b8e701c5449357a7ada2ee","iphone":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","ipad":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","androidphone":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","androidtablet":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c"},"anthology":{"desktop":"60b8e616cdd90620331bb0ba","mobile":"60b8e671c5449357a7ad9f66","iphone":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","ipad":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","androidphone":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","androidtablet":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c"},"content":{"desktop":"60b8e616cdd90620331bb0ba","mobile":"60b8e671c5449357a7ad9f66","iphone":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","ipad":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","androidphone":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","androidtablet":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c"}},"playerUpdates":{"5668ae6ee4b0b5e26955d6a6":"60d2472d9340d7032ad7e443","56aa41bae4b091744c0440d8":"60e869dc7c5f3b17b6741b81","5841b2b5cc52c716ec6e5a7f":"60b8e355cdd90620331ba185","58b5e2b8d85a10302feee895":"60b64316b171b7444beafdb2","58b74698f78ced31417819ae":"60b8e5bec5449357a7ad9b52","58b74ccecebcea57e2c3a3d1":"60b8e5eac5449357a7ad9ca5","58cff690d85a100b9992bc39":"60b8e616cdd90620331bb0ba","58cffb3fb6d9b972a49a3c9d":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","58cffdd74d96935d7d6ec180":"60b8e671c5449357a7ad9f66","58d03a84f78ced6518eb2fa7":"60b643c82e76be41f112735c","592edf20e0fa177b0c26f7fd":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","5b35266b158f855373e28256":"60b64354b171b7444beaff4d","5c116f29f79c4171d82b7c2a":"60b64440b171b7444beb040b","5c1170fc600c9a697bf0c6b9":"60b646102e76be41f1127ffc","5c47791afa1b317df8ae0c4f":"60b8e6bdc5449357a7ada147","5c477987a6b48b35f164773d":"60b8e701c5449357a7ada2ee","5c4779ee943c3c2a64f28371":"60b8e747cdd90620331bb861","5c477a26fcd67b26879bc7c2":"60b8e788c5449357a7ada67b","5d8921a78c3ae845f366c9b6":"60ae7be5f3a7c13a30417ff9","58b98b00ba82aa39a6534321":"60d0de7c9340d7032ad1146c","58b9d14cb6d9b96c9ec32af3":"60d0dec19340d7032ad115a0","58cff8eccebcea42931e0436":"60d0e005b627221e9d819d44","592edf5de0fa177b0c26f95b":"60d0e38fb627221e9d81adcf","58cff72fd85a100b9992c112":"60d0e447b627221e9d81b0da","56b4d34fe4b022697697c400":"60d2472d9340d7032ad7e443","60b8e4c0c5449357a7ad957d":"60e869dc7c5f3b17b6741b81"}},"connatixConfigValues":{"defaultPlayer":"ff7fdddc-5441-4253-abc4-f12a33fad58b","clickToPlayPlayer":"d014396e-b366-4c17-aeac-3ce906fa3fd0","videoPagePlayer":"f010447b-d244-4111-a314-7b4542ae4145","verticalPlayer":"e58cb05a-0bc8-4210-9108-fea82726c065"},"customAmpComponents":[],"ampAssetsUrl":"https://amp.assets.huffpost.com","videoTraits":null,"positionInUnitCounts":{"buzz_head":{"count":0},"buzz_body":{"count":0},"buzz_bottom":{"count":0}},"positionInSubUnitCounts":{"article_body":{"count":7},"blog_summary":{"count":0},"before_you_go_slideshow":{"count":0}},"connatixCountsHelper":{"count":0},"buzzfeedTracking":{"context_page_id":"649c5564e4b01c46134cf5e9","context_page_type":"buzz","destination":"huffpost","mode":"desktop","page_edition":"en-us"},"tags":[{"name":"Reality TV","slug":"reality-tv","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/reality-tv","permalink":"https://www.huffpost.com/topic/reality-tv","mobileWebLink":"https://www.huffpost.com/topic/reality-tv"},"department":{"name":"Entertainment","slug":"entertainment"},"section":{"title":"Entertainment","slug":"entertainment"},"topic":{"title":"Reality TV","slug":"reality-tv","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://www.huffpost.com/entertainment/topic/reality-tv"},{"name":"American Idol","slug":"american-idol","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/american-idol","permalink":"https://www.huffpost.com/topic/american-idol","mobileWebLink":"https://www.huffpost.com/topic/american-idol"},"department":{"name":"Entertainment","slug":"entertainment"},"section":{"title":"Entertainment","slug":"entertainment"},"topic":{"title":"American Idol","slug":"american-idol","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://www.huffpost.com/entertainment/topic/american-idol"},{"name":"kelly clarkson","slug":"kelly-clarkson","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/kelly-clarkson","permalink":"https://www.huffpost.com/topic/kelly-clarkson","mobileWebLink":"https://www.huffpost.com/topic/kelly-clarkson"},"department":{"name":"Entertainment","slug":"entertainment"},"section":{"title":"Entertainment","slug":"entertainment"},"topic":{"title":"Kelly Clarkson","slug":"kelly-clarkson","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://www.huffpost.com/entertainment/topic/kelly-clarkson"}],"isLiveblogLive":null,"cetUnit":"buzz_body","bodyAds":["<div id="ad-inline-1" class="ad-entry_paragraph_1 ad-spot–gam ad-spot–gam-inline-1"></div>rn<script type="text/javascript">rn HPGam.cmd.push(function(){rnttreturn HPGam.render("inline-1", "entry_paragraph_1", false);rn });rn</script>rn","<div id="ad-inline-2" class="ad-entry_paragraph_3 ad-spot–gam ad-spot–gam-inline-2"></div>rn<script type="text/javascript">rn HPGam.cmd.push(function(){rnttreturn HPGam.render("inline-2", "entry_paragraph_3", false);rn });rn</script>rn","<div id="ad-inline-infinite" class="ad-repeating_dynamic_display ad-spot–gam ad-spot–gam-inline-infinite"></div>rn<script type="text/javascript">rn HPGam.cmd.push(function(){rnttreturn HPGam.render("inline-infinite", "repeating_dynamic_display", false);rn });rn</script>rn"],"adCount":0},"isCollectionEmbed":false}”>

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_PCZNHo-Gw?rel=0&start=11&enablejsapi=1]

Clarkson made the revelation that she initially felt dismissed by her peers while speaking to Jennifer Love Hewitt — who was the 1990s “it girl” — on her talk show in 2021.

During her conversation with Hewitt, she thanked the “I Know What You Did Last Summer” star for being so kind to her when they first met.

“You probably don’t remember this, but it stuck with me for so long — almost 20 years now,” Calrkson told Hewitt at the time. “It was at some MTV Awards, and it was right when I was in the final three of ‘Idol.’ We were just so slammed, and everything was happening in a whirlwind, and people were really mean to us because we’re from a talent show, and it was the first season.”

Clarkson went on, “Like, everyone was so rude to us. On the carpet, at the show — it was so bad. It was a horrible experience, and you came up to me and ran out of nowhere and were like, ‘Oh my gosh! I’m really rooting for you!’”

Clarkson and “American Idol” runner-up Guarini with judges Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson at the 2002 MTV Video Music Awards.
Clarkson and “American Idol” runner-up Guarini with judges Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson at the 2002 MTV Video Music Awards.

Kevin Kane via Getty Images

And although it’s still difficult to remember the names of many recent winners of reality competition series — mostly because there are so many of them nowadays thanks in part to Clarkson proving these wins or mere appearances could be parlayed into actual careers — we should keep in mind to not completely write these people off.

Harry Styles and Emma Stone (then Emily Stone) both made their first public appearances in the reality competition series, “The X Factor” and VH1’s “In Search of the Partridge Family,” respectively. Jon Hamm of “Mad Men” fame scored one of his first TV gigs as a contestant on the defunct dating show, “The Big Date.”

While more recently, designer Christian Siriano launched his career after winning “Project Runway,” and Cardi B made a name for herself on “Love & Hip Hop: New York.”

Honestly, we could go on and on. So, show the folks hailing from reality TV a tad more respect.

CELEB GOSSIP