Kelly Clarkson accused “American Idol” of “lying” about the $1 million check she was supposed to receive after becoming the singing competition’s first winner.
The 43-year-old “Since You Been Gone” songstress made the bombshell during Tuesday’s episode of “The Kelly Clarkson Show,” which also co-starred with “Harry Potter” actor Daniel Radcliffe and reality star Rob Roush.
Clarkson brought up the topic when discussing the $220,800 prize Roush won for Season 4 of Traitor, but revealed that she has not yet received it.
“You know, I relate to this!” Clarkson said. “I really relate to this. You probably weren’t even alive when I was on ‘American Idol,’ but I was literally on the show.”
The “Breakaway” singer claimed that the show’s promises didn’t match what she actually got.
“They were like, ‘Oh, you win a million dollars,’ or something,” Clarkson said. “No, you’re not. They lied. It was like investing a million dollars worth of money in you.”
Radcliffe, looking stunned, interjected, “Wait a minute, what?”
“Yes!” Clarkson said, adding that she no longer won the big awards she thought she had won.
“They offered to buy me a car,” she explained. “I needed a car because my car got hit and I couldn’t afford the deductible. And no, I couldn’t get a car.”
Clarkson then claimed that Clay Aiken, who was runner-up on the show’s second season, ended up getting the car.
“Clay Aiken, who didn’t win in his second season, got a car – and so did his mother!” she told the audience as the crowd roared in disbelief.
“I was like, ‘Oh my god!'” Clarkson added, recalling a conversation with the singer at the time. “He was like, ‘Yeah, I gave it to my mom.'” He was like, “I’m going to actually kick your ass now.” ”
Radcliffe joked that early winners of the show should receive upgraded prizes if the rewards were improved later on.
“If you win something in the first season of something, you need a system where you can retroactively win whatever the prize is,” he said.
Mr. Clarkson countered, arguing that the reward had already been promised at the time.
“No, it was supposed to be a prize then, right? It was supposed to be a prize then!” she said.
She then jokingly warned Rausch that he might be waiting a while for payment.
“That’s why I’m saying — you might not see it,” Clarkson joked. “But I hope I have enough time for TV.”
Clarkson famously won the first season of “American Idol” in 2002, launching her chart-topping career with hits like “A Moment Like This,” “Behind These Hazel Eyes” and “Because of You.”
In September, the singer reflected on the 23rd anniversary of her victory and thanked the fans who voted early on the show.
“Winning ‘American Idol’ changed my life. I am forever grateful to everyone who has supported me over the years,” she wrote on social media.
He added, “Finding your purpose and passion is a gift and being able to make a living doing it is the best. Thank you for everything.”
The candid comments came shortly after Clarkson announced she was leaving the NBC daytime talk show after seven seasons to spend more time with her children, River, 11, and Remington, 9.
Her decision comes after a difficult year following the death of her ex-husband Brandon Blackstock, who passed away in August after a battle with cancer.
