Behind the Lee DeWyze 'Idol' Finale Snub

By Christine Fenno Posted May 28th 2011 11:02AM

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:

You're watching Lee DeWyze - PopEater Interview. See the Web's top videos on AOL Video

Tags: American Idol, lee dewyze, nigel lythgoe, ryan seacrest, Scotty McCreery

Comments

(77)

Sunday 29 May

By hello

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I want to know who the hell voted her #1 best looking woman in the world. LMAOOOOOOOOOO. She is so freakin average looking. I am serious. How the hell did she get #1 on peoples mag list? she is overweight, and over hyped. If got to pick 1 woman out of Hollyweirds top 100--she would be #99

Saturday 28 May

By juan balbuena

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IF NIGEL LITHGOE DID FOR MY CAREER WHAT HE DID FOR LEE'S... HE COULD "BORROW" ME TO DO HIS LAUNDRY!THAT'S NOT ARROGANCE,IT'S SPONTANEITY.HE SHOULD HAVE JUST DONE IT. WHEN ELSE WILL HE EVER HAVE A VIEWING AUDIENCE LIKE THAT AGAIN? HE IS JUST BITTER AND UNGRATEFUL.HE SHOULD PROBABLY JUST CHANGE HIS NAME TO LEE DeDumb...

Monday 30 May

By Mals

Nigel had no part in Lee's career. He was not a producer of the show last year. He came back to Idol this year.

By Rob

Who is this person?

By Waterlily

I voted for Lee Dwyse last year and I know I voted right. I was wondering why he did not perform on stage this year. Did see him sitting in third row and notice Seacrest not acknowleging him. He should have performed on stage. He earned that right. I feel that the finale took a differnt turn. The entertainment was, in my opinion, not right for AI. Children are part of the audience and I feel Lady Gagas performance was too much. I was surprised at Jennifer Lopez performance. OMG!! On a good note, Scotty deserved to win. America got it right!! Yay!!

By sean

It was a sub, if ever there was one, i think lee that you are going to be a great singer yet, but dues have to be paid. just keep making your music the way you want to, so 100 hundred years from now, John will have long gone, but your music will still be here..

right on Bro !!!!

By Teresa

To Mary.. Lee did make an album. To jannieschafer.. I couldn't agree with you more. I think Lee DeWyze is great and very talented and he should have been invited back since that would have been the right thing to do. Nigel is a jerk and should apologize. It makes me so mad that everyone treats the people of AI season 9 unfairly. They might have not been extremely exciting like Adam Lambert but the people of season 9 were true artists. They are singer/songwriters. Lee DeWyze wrote 10 out of 11 songs on his album and his songs are really great. Lee deserved to at least be acknowledged at the finale.

By jannieschafer

I feel so bad for Lee - the horrible way Idol snubbed him. Season 9's lackluster ratings had nothing to do with the talent, and everything to do with all the judge drama, including Nigel's refusal to pay Paula her asking price. Then he ended up paying J-Lo the same amount that Paula was denied.

A performance from Lee would have been so much better and much more appropriate than Beyonce screaming out "Make Love To Me" fifty times, or J-Lo shaking her butt, or Gaga's borderline pornographic performance. I could hear little kids everywhere asking their parents what "make love to me" means, or "what are those two doing up there?" as Gaga is simulating sex up on the cliff. This is a prime time show that is (or WAS, in my case!) watched by entire families. It's all so disgusting and disappointing.

By Jacko

DeWyre is d'over.

By ELLEN

AMERICAN IDOL IS A JOKE. TEENY BOPPERS VOTE AND THEY VOTE FOR THE WRONG PERSON/S NOTICE THAT THE LAST FEW WINNERS WERE MEN. THE WOMEN WERE MORE TALENTED BUT WERE NOT VOTED FOR. THE ONLY TRUE WINNERS OF IDOL ARE CARRIE UNDERWOOD ,KELLY CLARKSON, AND CHRIS DAUGHTRY WHO BY THE WAY WAS VOTED OFF. THIS SHOW WOULD BE A LOT BETTER IF THE JUDGES VOTED NOT THE PUBLIC. STEVE TYLER IS A JOKE AND SO IS LOPEZ. UGH! THIS SHOW WENT INTO THE CRAPPER WHEN SIMON LEFT. SOOO BORING!

Who was I gonna write about? I forgot already. Oh yea, Lee DeWyze. nevermind, forgot his name again already. I only remember Crystal Bowersox, and I only remember the 2nd place from the year b4 too, Adam Lambert. Oh yea, this story is about Lee Who?

WOW, I agree almost 100%. I still think Adam Lambert will have a very successful career, and maybe crystal, but i would bet on Lambert 1st.As for the teeny boppers & judges--RIGHT ON THE MONEY!!!

Hi Hello--Adam already has a successful career. Last summer he performed at over 70 sold out concerts in the US then traveled to a bunch of countries and performed in sold out ones there.
He has a big global fan base (just like Simon said he would) and last weekend performed in Russia. Also got a Grammy nomination and is now working on his 2nd album.

This is AMAZING! The last 3 idol winners all have the sam last name! Chris, Lee & Scotty Who. Maybe the 3 can make an album together. The Who brothers. (they may have to ask Townshend if it`s ok)

By Tami

Lee is awesome.We saw the AI concert tour last year and he really was the best one there. It's a matter of taste. I could not stand Crystal because she always tried to be Janis Joplin and I'm not interested in Janis Joplin. Have NOT heard Crystal on the radio so she's not as popular as you all claim either. The snub was rude. think smart people will see through it and see whose fault it was. If you have not heard of Lee, maybe AI and Nigel had something to do with him not being markteted out there! He's talented. Much better than Kris Allen!

By Janel

funny you say people only remember Crystal. I was reminded the other day of her when I saw someone who looked like her. But when I tried to mention her, I could not even remember her name. So I said that freaky looking short girl with the ugly dread locks. She is not going to have a good career. You never hear her anywhere and her voice is 50's and gross.

By the_fool

Okay I said I did not know him, but that is no way to treat someone who won. He should have gotten some kind of recognition. Very poorly handled.

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