Last year's 'American Idol' winner, Lee DeWyze, was absent from the stage during the season finale episode this week, and although he appeared on the series earlier this spring, he played no part in crowning new Idol Scotty McCreery.
Eagle-eyed viewers could spot DeWyze sitting in the audience at the Nokia Theater. But Ryan Seacrest never singled him out to let fans know the most recent 'Idol' was even in the house.
Why the snub? In years past, the champ from the previous cycle passed the torch with a performance, but this season seems to have ended in a feud.
Prior to the live broadcast, DeWyze hinted at trouble in this tweet: "Hey guys, no I'm not performing at the Finale. I wasn't asked to."
But 'Idol' producer Nigel Lythgoe soon gave the night's events a slightly different spin, casting DeWyze as an unwilling participant.
"I was so upset Lee DeWyze wouldn't present the winners trophy to Scotty," Lythgoe tweeted after the episode aired. "Especially as he'd been on the show this Season. I guess he was shy."
In his defense, the 25-year-old posted this comeback: "First off I want to say congrats to Scotty & Lauren.... Secondly, just for the record... I was not asked to be involved in the Finale. It wasn't until about 2 minutes before they announced [a winner] that Nigel had approached me and asked if he could 'borrow' me for a second."
DeWyze continued, "I didn't feel a last-second jump on stage was appropriate. It was Scotty's moment. I appreciate American Idol, and the opportunity it has given me.... I am not angry, or bitter etc. It was an amazing Finale, and I would have loved to be a part of it. I just wasn't asked. Good luck to all the contestants and stay true to yourself."
Now, the singer is elaborating in a new interview with the Hollywood Reporter: "Viewers and the people who vote on American Idol, I don't think they're stupid," DeWyze says of the headlines he's made. "If [Lythgoe] thinks that I'm a shy person, just sit with me for a minute and talk to me, you'll find out very quickly that I'm not. Why he said that, I can't speak for him. He's the big shot, but it came down to simple facts for me: I was not asked to perform on the show, which was something I was hoping to be a part of, since it was such a big part of my life. A last-second scramble.... seemed inappropriate and kind of ridiculous.... So yes, when Nigel tapped me on the shoulder and asked to 'borrow' me, I said No, and next thing I know, he's talking about it publicly. I don't know what point he's trying to make, but it's really not a big deal to me anymore. I'm over it."
He continues, "I didn't want them to throw me a bone because I didn't perform," calling Lythgoe "a very vocal person, and I can respect that part, but other than that, I can't say there's anything that's made me want to go have a drink with the guy." He points out, "I just love music, man, and that's what keeps me going."
Take a look back at PopEater's interview with 2010 champ Lee DeWyze, which took place before the latest 'Idol' controversy:
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It doesn't matter if they were forgettable or not, the point is that it was tacky and wrong for them to ask DeWyze as an afterthought. I thought Crystal was better too, but he did win and should have been acknowledged as such. What Nigel did was arrogant and wrong.
To be truthful, the goal of AI is not to crown the best performer or most talented, but crown the most marketable and the public voted accordingly. A lot of the country probably felt that Ma Bowersox was some spaced out crystal-clutching moon mama and Lee was clean, nice, middle-America. Let's face it, the entire country is not California or New York. Neither one are exactly burning up radio waves anyway, so whether she was the best choice between the two is moot and irrelevant.
It doesn't matter if you thought he should have won or not, the point is the snub, no matter who the winner was or should have been. It was very inconsiderate and rude of Idol producers to have treated him, or anyone, that way. Perhaps they're as bitter as you that he won over Crystal, so that's Idol's "payback" for their precious Crystal not winning. American voted for Lee.
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Last year's 'American Idol' winner, Lee DeWyze, was absent from the stage during the season finale episode this week, and although he appeared on the series earlier this spring, he played no part in crowning new Idol Scotty McCreery.
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Snubbed? I had to think who he was. Crystal Bowersox should have won and she has already proven what she can do with her releases to date.
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I totally agree with you.
Lee DeWyze is very forgettable. I'm not sure why he even won.
Crystal Bowersox is/was a much better performer, and has a better
career going for her now than Lee will ever have!
It doesn't matter if they were forgettable or not, the point is that it was tacky and wrong for them to ask DeWyze as an afterthought. I thought Crystal was better too, but he did win and should have been acknowledged as such. What Nigel did was arrogant and wrong.
Liz ... while I stand by what I said, I DO agree with you that it was wrong not to include Lee in the Finale.
As you said, he DID win last year, and SHOULD have been asked appropriately to participate, and not as an afterthought.
I didn't know who he was too, had to google him. For all his fans, he has a bunch of summer concerts. Personally I prefer Crystal.
This Nigel Lythgoe sounds like a jerk.
Just an aside, second place seems to be the best position on this show.
I agree that Crystal should have won, but since DeWyze did win, he shouldn't have been snubbed. It wasn't as if he sucked like that Kris Allen joke.
To be truthful, the goal of AI is not to crown the best performer or most talented, but crown the most marketable and the public voted accordingly. A lot of the country probably felt that Ma Bowersox was some spaced out crystal-clutching moon mama and Lee was clean, nice, middle-America. Let's face it, the entire country is not California or New York. Neither one are exactly burning up radio waves anyway, so whether she was the best choice between the two is moot and irrelevant.
It doesn't matter if you thought he should have won or not, the point is the snub, no matter who the winner was or should have been. It was very inconsiderate and rude of Idol producers to have treated him, or anyone, that way. Perhaps they're as bitter as you that he won over Crystal, so that's Idol's "payback" for their precious Crystal not winning. American voted for Lee.
Lee who?
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I thought Lee was great. I missed him. Good Luck to you Lee, you will be fine.
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Hey Lee , David Cook called and wants his hairdo back !
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Lee DeWyze and David Cook both make me snore while I'm awake
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Add Kris Allen, Jordan Sparks (goat Voice) as well, so many untalented winners!
Debbie, add that Hicks guy to your list, the most forgettable of them all.
I know it's also easy to forget this name but add Reuben Studdard to that list of "winners".
are we talking about the has beens of yesteryear..??
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Who's Lee DeWyze???
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Lee, dude - when Nigel Lythgoe says to JUMP, you jump, dude. Really.
You will be limited in your marketability and exposure if you arrogantly DISS the man that got you where you are.
Lee - wow. I thought you "got" all of that. Apparently not.
Next time - JUMP, dude. Really.
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Pretty sad. I know some of the second, third and fourth place winners of previous years - but have no idea who this Lee guy is.
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