'American Idol' Season 21 winner, Iam Tongi, has spoken up amid the recent criticisms surrounding the show's results. A wave of accusations claims that the highly sought-after competition has been rigged.
In the face of unwarranted skepticism, the Hawaii native expressed his gratitude for the immense support he has received from fans and her fellow contestants.
'American Idol' Winner Iam Tongi Speaks Up
NEW YORK - OCTOBER 24: The "American Idol" logo is worn by a worker outside the Regent Hotel, Wall Street, where auditions for "American Idol" are being held October 24, 2002 in New York City.
The "American Idol" winner, Iam Tongi, has spoken up for the first time since winning the long-running singing competition, according to The New York Post. He started by extending gratitude to everyone who voted for him, enabling him to emerge as the lone victor of Season 21. The 19-year-old Hawaii native says the experience is "amazing."
"Now that [I am] the 'Idol' of the 21st season, [it is] crazy," Tongi told TV Insider in his recent interview.
The "American Idol" 2023 winner also feels good that he got an opportunity to inspire other aspirants in his journey to victory.
His recent remarks came after he won the intense competition. His victory was tarnished with widespread criticisms, alleging rigged results. Some even pointed out that the 18-year-old bested the other contenders due to a "sympathy vote."
The backlash came after Tongi, a high school senior, shared with the "Idol" judges, including Lionel Richie, Katy Perry, and Luke Bryan, that his father recently passed away. He told the jury that his dad died after grappling with Stage 4 kidney disease months before he joined the sensational singing competition.
Besides sharing his story, the high schooler made a heartfelt gesture throughout the competition. He played the guitar of his late dad during his electrifying performances.
But sad to say, the instrument broke down in the middle of the intense competition. Despite that, the 18-year-old says he will treasure his father's guitar.
In his post-winning interview, Tongi says, "[it is] not a bad thing to talk about your problems and what you go through."
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'American Idol' Crowns Iam Tongi as Season 21 Winner
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 18: (L-R) Lionel Richie, Katy Perry and Luke Bryan attend "American Idol" 20th Anniversary Celebration at Desert 5 Spot on April 18, 2022 in Los Angeles, California.
According to the Los Angeles Times, Tongi bested Megan Danielle, who took the second place, Colin Stough, sitting at the third spot, and the other "American Idol" contenders.
Tongi's incredible vocal range and emotional performances throughout the competition earned him praise from the judges.
On top of that, his heartfelt performances also resonated deeply with the viewers. And as such, Tongi's initial audition easily went viral online. It made history after amassing a staggering 16 million views on the YouTube account of "American Idol," outperforming all other audition clips.
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