Kelly Clarkson recently took a swipe at “American Idol,” accusing the show of being deceptive about its prize offerings. This revelation comes more than 20 years after Clarkson made history as the inaugural winner of the reality singing competition.

The 43-year-old singer, who has recently opened up about her decision to step back from her daytime talk show, didn’t hold back during a discussion on Tuesday’s episode of “The Kelly Clarkson Show.”

Joining her on the show were actor Daniel Radcliffe and Rob Rausch, the winner of season four of “The Traitors.” The conversation took an interesting turn when Clarkson inquired about Rausch’s winnings of $220,800, to which he confessed he had yet to receive the funds.

Clarkson sympathized with Rausch, saying, “I totally get where you’re coming from. You probably weren’t even born when I was on ‘American Idol,’ but I was right there, experiencing it firsthand.”

She further explained, “They made it sound like the winner would walk away with a million dollars. But that wasn’t the case. It was more like a million dollars invested in you, not cash-in-hand. They were misleading about it.”

She added, ‘And they were like, “Oh, you win a million dollars,” or whatever. No, you didn’t. They lied. It was, like, a million dollars worth of investment in you.’ 

Kelly Clarkson called out ‘lying’ American Idol over a shock snub – over two decades after being the first winner of the reality singing competition

She added, ‘And they were like, “Oh, you win a million dollars,” or whatever. No, you didn’t. They lied. It was, like, a million dollars worth of investment in you’

The Harry Potter actor quickly interrupted with, ‘Wait, what?’ while Clarkson insisted with, ‘Yes!’ 

The performer continued, ‘And then they said you get a car. And I needed it because my car was bashed in and I couldn’t afford the deductible. And then – no! I did not get a car.’

The mom-of-two then added that the runner-up on the second season of American Idol, Clay Aiken, had gotten a car. 

‘And then Clay Aiken, who didn’t win the second season, got a car and his mom!’ she exclaimed to the live audience as some of the crowd erupted into disbelief. 

Rausch shook his head and said, ‘Unbelievable,’ while the singer added, ‘I was like, “What the f***!” 

‘I remember Clay telling me that the second season. He’s like, “Yeah, they gave my mom one.” I was like, “I’m gonna actually kick your a** right now.”‘ 

Radcliffe also shared his thoughts by saying, ‘There should be some system where if you win something on the first season of something, whatever the prize has become, you should retroactively get that.’ 

Clarkson further expressed, ‘No, it was supposed to be the prize then, okay? It was supposed to be the prize then!’ 

The Harry Potter actor quickly interrupted with, ‘Wait, what?’ while Clarkson insisted with, ‘Yes!’

The performer continued, ‘And then they said you get a car. And I needed it because my car was bashed in and I couldn’t afford the deductible. And then – no! I did not get a car’

‘And then Clay Aiken, who didn’t win the second season, got a car and his mom!’ she exclaimed to the live audience as some of the crowd erupted into disbelief; Aiken seen in 2024 in Atlanta 

Rausch shook his head and said, ‘Unbelievable,’ while the singer added, ‘I was like, “What the f***!”‘

Clarkson further expressed, ‘No, it was supposed to be the prize then, okay? It was supposed to be the prize then!’

She then humorously turned to Rausch and jokingly quipped, ‘That’s why I’m saying, you might not see it. You might not see it. But, you know, I hope you got enough TV time.’ 

Daily Mail has reached out to reps of Clarkson, but did not immediately hear back. 

Clarkson had been the first winner of American Idol in 2002 which was then followed by the star releasing hit tracks such as A Moment Like This, Behind These Hazel Eyes and Because Of You. 

Last year in September, the singer notably reflected on the 23rd anniversary since winning the competition show. 

Alongside a throwback snap from her time on the series, she penned in the caption: ‘To everyone that took time 23 years ago to call in and vote for me, thank you.

‘Winning American Idol changed my life and I will be forever grateful for all of you that have supported me for so many years.’

She concluded with, ‘It is a gift to find your purpose and passion, and to be able to make a living doing it is the cherry on top. Thank you, always.’ 

Back in February, Clarkson shockingly announced she was quitting her NBC talk show after seven seasons. 

Clarkson had been the first winner of American Idol in 2002 which was then followed by the star releasing hit tracks such as A Moment Like This, Behind These Hazel Eyes and Because Of You; seen on American Idol in 2002

Last year in September, the singer notably reflected on the 23rd anniversary since winning the competition show

The Stronger hitmaker explained she was stepping back from the show to ‘prioritize’ her two children and sent gratitude to the team she has worked with over the years. 

Her ex-husband and the father of her two children Brandon Blackstock passed away last August following a battle with cancer. 

She broke her silence on the exit during an appearance on the Today show shortly afterwards and admitted it was not an easy decision.

‘That’s what was really hard. The crew’s been incredible. It wasn’t that the show wasn’t doing well.’

The songstress added, ‘That’s what kind of sucked, it was like, everything was going well. That’s what was really hard. It was people’s jobs. We are family there as well.’ 

However, Clarkson expressed that her priority is her children River, 11, and son Remington, nine. 

‘Well, I think everybody probably gets the timing. Our family life, the dynamic changed a bit and it has changed for a minute now.’ 

The singer also shared, ‘I know everybody thinks, “Oh she quit.” I’m like, “I still have other jobs. I’m still doing stuff.” There’s just too much on the plate. So I’m like, “You know what, it’s time to kind of pull back.”‘

Back in February, Clarkson shockingly announced she was quitting her NBC talk show after seven seasons

Fellow singer Pink had recently taken on guest hosting duties on The Kelly Clarkson Show – but denied that she was taking over full time; seen in 2024 in California 

Fellow singer Pink had recently taken on guest hosting duties on The Kelly Clarkson Show – but denied that she was taking over full time. 

‘Hi everybody,’ she said in a since-deleted Instagram video. ‘Just in a continuation of debunking all of the sources that we’ve got going on in the world. I’m not taking over the Kelly Clarkson Show.

‘I’m doing a fun thing for my buddy Kelly, because it’s a fun thing. If I wanted a talk show, I would not have to audition.’

The performer added, ‘I would just have one, and it would be amazing, not something I’m currently researching or looking for in my busy, busy, busy world.’