Carrie Underwood Faces Fan Backlash After Controversial Critique of ‘American Idol’ Finalist Jamal Roberts
Carrie Underwood may be no stranger to American Idol pressure, but this week, some fans feel she applied it unfairly. After Sunday and Monday’s Top 5 live shows, Underwood has found herself at the center of online backlash for comments directed at standout contestant Jamal Roberts—comments many viewers thought missed the mark.
Jamal, a 27-year-old powerhouse vocalist, wowed the live audience with a dynamic cover of “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell. The crowd roared, Luke Bryan praised his charisma and confidence, and Lionel Richie even coined the term “Jamalerized” to celebrate how Roberts made the classic song his own.
But Underwood, notably, remained seated—and her critique hit a different chord.
“I feel like you missed such an opportunity to move around and entertain,” she said, urging Jamal to offer more than just vocal power.
The timing raised eyebrows. As the last remaining Black contestant in the competition, Jamal had just delivered a performance that visibly resonated with both the audience and the other judges. Many fans felt Carrie’s comments were inconsistent, especially considering other contestants had performed with similar minimal movement without being called out.
The controversy deepened when Underwood offered no feedback at all following Jamal’s second performance—a soulful, emotional rendition of “Beauty and the Beast” that again earned a standing ovation. Her silence didn’t go unnoticed.
Social Media Reacts Swiftly—and Sharply
Almost instantly, viewers flooded social media with criticism. Posts on X (formerly Twitter) accused Underwood of holding Jamal to a different standard. Many pointed out that other contestants “stood still” on stage and received glowing feedback.
User @AntwoinMonach tweeted:
“Carrie Underwood telling Jamal to move around more yet praised the other dude who stood still as well smh.”
@BriaMarieM18 added:
“Carrie on American Idol is a hater. Telling Jamal to move around on stage when the others stood they ass in one spot as well.”
Fans didn’t hold back, calling her feedback tone-deaf and even questioning whether she should return as a judge if this is how she treats contestants under pressure.
To be fair, challenging performers in the final stretch of the competition is part of a judge’s role. But fans expect consistency—and when an audience favorite gets singled out in a way that doesn’t align with how others are critiqued, it naturally sparks controversy.
Jamal Moves Forward, Stronger Than Ever
Despite the criticism—and maybe even fueled by it—Jamal Roberts advanced to the Top 3, proving yet again he’s a force to be reckoned with. His back-to-back standout performances have only strengthened his fan base heading into the finale.
As of now, Carrie Underwood hasn’t publicly responded to the backlash. But next week’s final episode promises to be intense—not only because of the competition, but because all eyes will be on what Carrie says next, especially when Jamal takes the stage again.