Viewers accuse ‘American Idol’ of exploiting Claudia Conway for ratings: ‘Disgusting’

The big hype that leads to Sunday american idol The debut of the 19th season centered on auditioning Claudia Conway, the 16-year-old daughter of former Donald Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway. Claudia insisted, both on her recently revived Twitter account and on the screen in the listening room, that it is happening Idol it was an “incredible opportunity” for her to establish her own identity and pursue her long-standing dream of evolving from a TikTok star to a pop star; George, the father of Claudia’s lawyer, who accompanied her to Idol set, even said on Sunday through tears that “I couldn’t imagine anything that would make her happier than doing that”.

But the reaction to Claudia’s appearance on TV, however, was immediate, intense … and not unjustified. After an uninterrupted torrent of protests on Twitter on Sunday nights, this outrage was distilled in a tweet widely Variety opinion article entitled “How ‘American Idol’ used Claudia Conway”.

Many viewers and commentators accused american idol to exploit a vulnerable young woman for ratings, or simply wonder if Claudia, despite showing some raw talent, would have received as much screening time (or any screening time), let alone a Golden Ticket to Hollywood, if her parents weren’t “ high-level political figures. ”(After Claudia’s first attempt at music didn’t work, the judges, particularly Katy Perry, seemed so eager to say yes that they actually asked her to sing a second song, with Perry’s very practical training producing results slightly best. )

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Other critics understandably criticized american idol for humanizing and normalizing the behavior of Kellyanne, who made headlines not only for her complicit role in the Trump administration, but for allegedly physically and emotionally abusing Claudia. On Sundays Idol episode, Claudia said: “When your mother is working for the President of the United States, with whom you disagree, it is difficult”, but she and Kellyanne played down their “family drama” – insisting that they love each other just like any other battered and incorrigible mother teenage daughter, and that they “agree to disagree”, even though their relationship is currently “dubious”. Claudia’s audition was preceded by a lively video conversation from her supportive mother – although that supposed moment of well-being actually seemed positively dystopian, when little Claudia stood in the shade of a digital wall the size of a billboard in style. of Big Brother from Kellyanne’s smiling, pixelated face.

Conway’s “family drama” took place in real time on Claudia’s social networks over the past two years (2.5 million fans on TikTok, Twitter and Instagram follow her posts protesting her parents’ political beliefs) – so much so that when Claudia appeared in Idol Sunday, a concerned Perry asked her, “Are you okay?” and “Does your mom still hug you?” In August, Claudia posted that she was looking for a pro bono family lawyer so she could emancipate herself “because of years of childhood trauma and abuse”; soon after, she announced that she was taking a “mental health break” on social media. On the same day as Claudia’s hiatus announcement, Kellyanne and George Conway issued statements announcing the resignation of their respective positions, so that they could “devote more time to family matters.” Claudia then responded during a live TikTok broadcast, claiming that the his parents’ gesture “was not genuine” and confessing that his mental health was “getting worse all the time”.

Claudia’s American Idol the audition was filmed in November 2020 and, judging from the flattering edition that she and her parents received this week, everything seemed calm, or relatively calm, at Conway’s camp at that time. But the family dynamic has apparently become even more toxic in recent months, which has led to Idol critics questioned whether it was appropriate to broadcast Claudia’s test in February 2021. Last month, Claudia posted TikTok videos, which accumulated millions of views before being deleted, that seemed to show Kellyanne screaming and becoming physically violent with her. In a video, Claudia stated that Child Protection Services “interviewed my entire family and they didn’t do shit. Pierre from Child Protective Services, if you’re watching this, you failed me. “

One week later (and less than three weeks before american idol premiere date), Kellyanne seemed to vengefully tweet a photo of Claudia topless; Claudia later confirmed that the photograph was authentic, but said that Kellyanne’s Twitter post was accidental, saying, “I assume my mom took a picture of her to use against me one day and then someone hacked her or something” and ” I know that my mother would never, ever post something that intentionally hurt me like that, and I believe she was hacked. ”Claudia said that she and her mother would take care of the situation in particular, and she would“ never ”talk about it to the press.

On Sunday, Claudia insisted on the American Idol judges (including Luke Bryan, the only judge who voted no to send her through): “Now I want to get out of the controversy, get out of the drama, get out of any political, and let people know that I’m a singer and that’s what I want to do.” But she Idol appearance seems to have done little to end the controversy that constantly surrounds it. The controversy certainly makes television restless, so expect Claudia, who is already being aggressively promoted in the 19th season teaser videos, to receive a lot more screentime during Hollywood Week. (In a recent interview with TV InsiderMentor Bobby Bones was asked how much interaction he had with Claudia in Hollywood, to which he responded concisely, “A lot, actually. I’m just going to say it was interesting. ”)

But if Claudia’s Idol participation is a genuine attempt for her to take control of her narrative and destiny and launch an exciting “new chapter” in her life, or a worrying case of gross child exploitation for ratings and publicity, yet to be seen. Apparently this … is american idol in 2021.

Representatives from ABC and Fremantle did not respond to Yahoo Entertainment’s request for comment.

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