Carrie Underwood has found herself at the center of online criticism after appearing to make light of an American Idol contestant’s appearance during a recent episode of the show. The 42-year-old singer, who serves as a judge on the popular competition, commented on an audition that caught her attention for an unexpected reason.

During Monday night’s broadcast, Underwood confessed to her fellow judges that she couldn’t help but focus on what she described as the contestant’s “baby knees.” This unusual observation sparked a conversation with fellow judge Luke Bryan, as Underwood recalled an incident from 2016 when her own knee became an internet sensation. At the time, a photo of her knee supposedly resembled the face of British royal Prince George, leading to widespread amusement online.

Underwood noted a similar likeness in the contestant’s knees, which prompted her to stand up and display her own knees to the camera, eliciting laughter from those present in the room. However, this lighthearted moment did not sit well with everyone.

Some viewers took to social media to express their disapproval, criticizing Underwood for seemingly joking about the contestant’s physical features alongside her fellow judges. The backlash highlights the fine line public figures must navigate when making comments on appearances, even in jest.

Underwood even got up and showed off her knees to the camera as everyone in the room erupted in laughter. 

But some people were unamused by the Before He Cheats songstress seemingly laughing about a contestant’s features with her fellow judges, and were quick to slam her online.

‘Such a weird comment. As if young women don’t feel insecure enough in our society let’s just make a new one up I guess?’ wrote one Instagram user underneath the video.

‘Disappointing and just strange when there are so many better topics of conversation like her incredible voice and unique “instrument.”‘

Carrie Underwood has been fiercely slammed online after she seemingly made fun of an American Idol contestant’s body during the show

The singer was discussing an audition with her fellow American Idol judges during Monday’s episode when she admitted that she ‘couldn’t stop’ looking at the contestant’s ‘baby knees’

Someone else wrote on Reddit, per The Sun: ‘I NEVER want to hear ANYONE tell me that nobody notices all the little things I’m self-conscious about because this poor woman is sitting at home somewhere hearing Carrie Underwood say “I couldn’t stop staring at her baby knees.”‘

‘This is exactly what I thought as soon as Carrie said that the poor girl,’ commented another.  

‘I felt terrible for her,’ said a different viewer.

In the clip, Underwood said: ‘I couldn’t stop looking at her baby knees.’

‘Her what?’ Bryan asked, to which she responded: ‘Her baby knees… when you have, like, a face in your knees. 

‘Right after Kate [Middleton] and Prince William had their baby, George, my knees were in a magazine and it was like, “Prince George’s face is in Carrie Underwood’s knees!”‘

It comes days after Underwood was branded as unrecognizable after her American Idol audition from 20 years ago resurfaced.

The country music star was skyrocketed into the spotlight after she won the fourth season of the singing competition show in 2005.

She went on to explain to Luke Bryan that in 2016, she went viral after many social media users noticed that her knee bizarrely took on the shape of Prince George’s face in a photo

And she said she noticed that the American Idol contestant had something similar. She even got up and showed off her knees to the camera as everyone in the room erupted in laughter

Footage of her auditioning for the series went viral on social media last week, and while many were in awe at seeing the audition that launched her career, some couldn’t believe how different she looked when she tried out for the show all those years ago. 

‘She doesn’t even really look like the same person. In fact in the pink outfit, I thought she was Hilary Duff for a split second,’ one user wrote after the audition was shared on Instagram. 

‘She doesn’t even look like the same person,’ added another.

‘Her face has changed,’ agreed someone else.

‘Her face, those lips… She looks nothing like she used to too,’ read a fourth comment.

A fifth said: ‘She looks nothing like herself.’

Over the years, Underwood has sparked plastic surgery speculation on numerous occasions due to her changing appearance. 

But some people were unamused by the Before He Cheats songstress seemingly laughing about a contestant’s features with the fellow judges, and were quick to slam her

Underwood is seen in 2016 during the performance in which the media said she had ‘baby knees’

It comes days after Underwood was branded as unrecognizable after her American Idol audition from 20 years ago resurfaced 

She has been open about undergoing surgery after she suffered a nasty fall in 2017 that left her needing more than 40 stitches in her face. 

After the accident the Oklahoma-born singer admitted she felt forced to speak out to avoid being accused of having plastic surgery for cosmetic reasons.

She told the Ellen DeGeneres show in 2018: ‘I feel like I do [look different] a little bit. My biggest worry at the time was like, if I say nothing then later on… I feel like people are gonna say, “What has she done to herself electively?”

‘And it definitely was not a choice. I feel close to myself. I feel pretty close to normal.’

In the same year, the Grammy award winner addressed rumors that she had gotten a ‘nose job’ or ‘other work done’ on her face.

She said: ‘The truth is just as interesting I wish I’d gotten some awesome plastic surgery to make this [scar] look better, but I try not to worry too much about it.’