A new American Idol has been crowned after a season filled with famous faces and absolutely emotional auditions. The person who ultimately took home the crown was none other than Iam Tongi, the Hawaiian teen who captured a number of viewers’ hearts. Though he developed a solid following during his tenure on Season 21, there are some people who take issue with his win. In fact, some viewers have even gone as far as to say that his victory proves the show is “rigged.” Now, as the backlash continues, Tongi himself is (respectfully) clapping back at the accusations.
During finale night, the 18-year-old was chosen over now-runner-up Colin Stough, who appeared happy for his fellow competitor. Stough’s fans, on the other hand, remained adamant that he should’ve been awarded the title. Via social media posts, some argued that Iam Tongi won as a result of sympathy from the judges. These are very pointed accusations, but Tongi himself doesn’t seem to mind the blowback:
