'American Idol' Winner Just Sam Shares New Subway Singing Videos, Three Years After Winning Virtual Season

Just Sam is breaking her silence and opening up about returning to performing on the subway, just a few years after they won the 2020 season of American Idol.

alum Oliver Steele clapped back at accusations about Katy Perry's bullying last week, penning a defense of the singer on Instagram.  «I've seen a lot of rumors going around the internet about Katy Perry possibly leavingand I don't necessarily know what’s true and what's not. Here is what I know about @katyperry,» the 24-year-old musician wrote. Steele made it to the Top 8 on season 21 of last month, where Iam Tongi was crowned winner.

If there’s one thing Kelly Clarkson remembers about the very first season of “American Idol,” it’s how much some of her fellow contestants got beaten down by online backlash. According to the singer and talk show host, she watched several people “break their spirit” on the show.During Thursday’s episode of “The Kelly Clarkson Show,” the host welcomed fellow musical icon Seal, who made a point to praise her for having the “courage” to put herself on a stage to be judged not only by the actual judges, but the entire audience around the country.But, for Clarkson, the experience was “a good boot camp.” What was harder was seeing other people struggle with nationwide input.“It was more hard, not for me, but to watch other people — I’m always that person, like, it’s hard for me to watch other people go through something,” Clarkson said.

While Iam Tongi cashed in as the "American Idol" winner of the 2023 season, controversy around judge Katy Perry exploded like a firework over her sometimes harsh criticism of contestants.  Now that the season is over, finalist and top 8 contestant Oliver Steele is debunking rumors that Perry is a bully. "I’ve seen a lot of rumors going around the internet about Katy Perry possibly leaving idol and I don’t necessarily know what’s true and what’s not. Here is what I know about [her].

hear him “Roar.”“American Idol” finalist Oliver Steele lashed out on Instagram Saturday to defend controversial judge Katy Perry, claiming that she never bullied or shamed any contestant.Throughout the singing competition’s 21st season, the 38-year-old pop diva has been the subject of several teenage nightmares and social media rants about the judge’s provocative — and possibly “rude” — coaching methods.Steele, 25, opened up his post by saying that he’s “seen a lot of rumors going around the internet about Katy Perry possibly leaving idol,” adding that he can neither confirm nor deny them. “Here is what I know about @katyperry,” said the musician.

Bachelorette no more! Andi Dorfman and Blaine Hart are officially married more than one year after their whirlwind engagement.

Sam Faiers jetted off for a flying visit to the big apple to celebrate the American launch of her hugely successful supplement brand.The former The Only Way Is Essex star, 32, revealed to fans on her social media that she had spent just two nights in New York. Although she couldn’t stay for long, Sam called the US launch “a dream come true” and shared that it had “always been my goal.” Sam, who admitted that she felt emotional leaving her kids behind in the UK, is partnering with Saks, a department store headquartered in New York that boasts 42 locations across the country, to bring her brand to a brand new audience.To celebrate the collab, Sam posed in a bright pink pantsuit outside of Saks’ most famous store which is located on New York’s iconic fifth avenue. The former reality star thanked her “amazing team” for the feat and paid tribute to her business partner, John Bailey.

Megan Danielle is speaking out amid allegations that American Idol Season 21 was “rigged” in favor of winner Iam Tongi.

Iam Tongi was crowned the winner of American Idol Season 21 with Megan Danielle taking second place and Colin Stough taking third.

competition was rigged.“I would say that it isn’t just because, you know, I feel like God made all of this happen for a reason,” the 21-year-old said in her first public comments about the controversy. “Even if I was first, second, last, whatever … I feel like any of us really deserved it.”The former waitress gushed about winner Iam Tongi, who took the No.

American Idol led to “the downfall of society”.The View presenter got into an awkward exchange with an off-camera producer on Wednesday (May 24) while discussing Netflix‘s new documentary about the final days of Anna Nicole Smith’s life.After speaking to her co-hosts about the documentary, Goldberg concluded that “people like to be judgy,” before suggesting that American Idol was responsible for that kind of television.“You have Basketball Wives, you have the Housewives of whatever, all the Bravo shows, giving you the impression that you’re doing something wrong because you’re living your life,” said Goldberg (via Page Six).“People watch these shows because they make them feel better,” she continued. “I think that we, as a society, love to watch stuff to judge folks.”The Sister Act star then revealed the exact point she believes audiences became too quick to pass judgement.“You know, I’ve always thought that the beginning of the downfall of society was with, um, what’s the name of that show I always tell you that?” she asked, turning to executive producer Brian Teta.Goldberg had evidently shared the opinion with Teta before, because the off-camera producer replied: “ABC’s American Idol?”The studio audience laughed as the producer attempted to remind Goldberg that American Idol airs on the Disney-owned ABC, the same network that pays her salary.“Well, it wasn’t always on ABC,” Goldberg hit back in defence.

Iam Tongi is addressing all the controversy over his American Idol win.

Whoopi Goldberg might be getting in trouble with 's network — ABC. The 67-year-old co-host of spoke out against another ABC show during a panel discussion this week.While discussing the recent Anna Nicole Smith documentary,, Goldberg talked about society's obsession with judging others.«I think, you know, that we as a society love to watch stuff, to judge folks,» Goldberg said. «I've always thought that the beginning of the downfall of society was with… what's the name of that show?»«That's ABC's » a producer replied, smiling.«It was not always on ABC.

first Pacific Islander to win “American Idol,” isn’t fazed by the rigging accusations that accompanied Sunday’s triumph — in fact, he said he “loves it.”“A lot of people are like, ‘Colin Stough was robbed,’ or whatever. And I just love it,” Tongi, 18, told the Daily Mail.Tongi, of Samoan and Tongan heritage, reigned victorious in the 21st season finale, beating out Stough, 18, and Megan Danielle, 20, but his win baffled fans who claimed the singing competition was “rigged.”Instead of letting haters get to him, he throws a “like” to critics’ social media posts, explaining he just has to “let those things happen.”“I am guilty for liking it,” he admitted.

It’s a no from her. Whoopi Goldberg thinks American Idol is to blame for some of society’s problems —seemingly forgetting that the competition show airs on the same network as The View.

“American Idol” was the “beginning of the downfall of society.”The 67-year-old made the bold claim on the ABC talk show Wednesday morning.Goldberg’s theory was brought up as the women of the show discussed why Netflix recently “dwelled” on the final days and legacy of Anna Nicole Smith in a new documentary. The actress claimed that viewers flock to these kinds of shows because “people like to be judgy.”“You have ‘Basketball Wives,’ you have the ‘Housewives’ of whatever, all the Bravo shows, giving you the impression that you’re doing something wrong because you’re living your life,” Goldberg said.

Whoopi Goldberg may be finding herself in more hot water on “The View”.

“American Idol” has crowned its newest winner in Hawaii native Iam Tongi, whose victory as the first AAPI winner of the ABC competition still has not fully hit him.“It’s unreal,” Tongi told TheWrap just two days after Ryan Seacrest announced his name on the big stage. “It’s weird to be here [as] the winner, because … it was going so slow during the competition, but out of nowhere it was finished and I was like ‘that went by so fast.'”While several AAPI contestants have climbed their way to the top three finalists, including fan-favorite Jasmine Trias of the show’s third installment, Tongi noted that this milestone achievement happening during national AAPI month in May gives the win an even bigger significance, saying “it feels really good to be representing why Polynesian people during this month.”Originally from Kahuku, a town in O’ahu, Hawaii, Tongi noted the challenge of saying goodbye to his friends back home to come compete on the show, where his talents were recognized early on by judges with some early successes, including being chosen to sing out the group after the judges narrowed the contestants down to the top 24 with an emotional rendition of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.”Tongi also experienced a personal accomplishment when he worked with guest mentor and country legend Keith Urban, whose music marked a distinct memory in Tongi’s upbringing as his father, who has since passed away, adored Urban’s music.

Back to her roots. American Idol winner Samantha Diaz — who goes by the stage name Just Sam — revealed she’s returned to performing on the subways in New York City.

Winning American Idol isn’t necessarily the slam dunk it’s chalked up to be.