American Idol is taking some heat for letting former Trump White House counselor Kellyanne Conway rehab her image with an appearance on their show.
Conway over the weekend appeared on American Idol because her daughter, Claudia Conway, was a contestant on the singing competition.
During the show, Kellyanne was beamed in via video to tell her teenage daughter how proud she was of her, despite the fact that the two had been bitterly fighting one another in public over the last several months.
"We love you so much, sweetheart, we're really proud of you," Kellyanne told her daughter.
Many of American Idol's Twitter followers were not pleased to see the show act as a vehicle for Kellyanne Conway's public rehabilitation, especially because it let Conway try to get back into good graces by using a daughter she's been feuding with for the better part of the last year.
Check out some reactions below.
Should be called ‘B celebrity reputation rehab’ (feel bad for the kid)
— Luke Zaleski (@ZaleskiLuke) February 15, 2021
Never missed a season of Idol. While Claudia wasn't horrific and you've had worse, there is no way any judge on any season would have let her through were it not for her controversy. Being that she is a child, I blame her parents first, you 2nd. Thanks @KatyPerry for saying NO.
— Lesley Abravanel🆘 (@lesleyabravanel) February 15, 2021
This is the worst thing you've ever broadcast, and the bar was already so low.
— Stephen Boatright (@stevieboatleft) February 15, 2021
Wait. Was this taped before the alleged abuse? Or was the entire drama a cunning PR stunt to launch someone's pop career.
— Normmunist Party (@oddlyordinary0) February 15, 2021
Her audition was taped in November and Katy Perry offered Claudia VERY SPECIFIC advice to "turn down the noise" on social media and in her life.
— Social✽Fly (@socflyny) February 15, 2021
Given the family's recent VERY PUBLIC breakdowns, your producers had a responsibility not to exploit this for ratings.
It's gross.
American Idol is the most exploitive program on television.
— The Hoarse Whisperer (@TheRealHoarse) February 15, 2021
“Remember honey, winners are people who are happy to exploit their underage daughter on national TV to try to rehab their reputation after working for a wannabe dictator!”
— David Hobby (@strobist) February 15, 2021
Why are you allowing this criminal her redemption?
— Laurie Kilmartin (@anylaurie16) February 15, 2021
This is fucking sick. The woman who injected alternative facts into the American psyche is now portrayed as the supportive mother. If this is not parody. Its the canary in 2021 coalmine.
— 📢 (@stillandmoving) February 15, 2021
No. That woman does not get to be normalized and rehab her reputation like this. I don’t care if her daughter is on the show
— Courtnay 🦆 (@courtnaymarieg) February 15, 2021
And to clarify - this is me saying Kellyanne should not be on your show.
— Shana at 🏠 (@shanaelliot) February 15, 2021
