Carrie Underwood is under fire from American Idol fans after her comments to contestant Jamal Roberts during the show’s Disney Night episode sparked a wave of online backlash.
The moment came during Monday night’s intense semifinal, where the competition narrowed down to the final three: Breanna Nix, Slater Nalley, and Jamal Roberts. While the night was filled with standout vocals and high emotions, it was Underwood’s critique of Jamal that quickly became the talk of social media.
A Performance That Divided the Judges
Jamal, 27, delivered a soulful R&B take on “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” — the classic Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell hit featured in Remember the Titans. His performance had the crowd cheering and even earned a standing ovation from judges Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie, who have both been big supporters of Jamal all season.
But Carrie Underwood took a different approach. Though she acknowledged Jamal’s “incredible voice,” she encouraged him to bring more energy and movement to the stage.
“We’re so close to the finale now,” she said. “It’s time to go all out. You’ve got the voice — now show us everything else you’ve got. We want the full performance.”
Her remarks, while intended as constructive, didn’t sit well with many fans — especially given how other contestants, like John Foster and Breanna Nix, delivered more stationary performances without similar comments.
Fans Call Out Carrie’s Judging Style
Almost immediately, fans took to social media to express frustration, calling Underwood’s critique “unfair” and “inconsistent.”
“Everyone else gets praised for standing still, but Jamal’s supposed to dance around?” one fan tweeted.
“She was fine with John sitting in a chair for a whole song but had a problem with Jamal not moving enough? Come on,” another wrote.
Some fans even suggested that the crowd’s loud cheers during Jamal’s follow-up performance were a direct response to Carrie’s earlier critique — a sign of support for the contestant.
A few viewers went further, calling for changes to the judges’ panel next season, arguing that Underwood’s comments lacked balance.
“You’re supposed to be fair, Carrie. That didn’t feel like it tonight,” one viewer posted.
Carrie’s First Season as Judge Draws Mixed Reviews
This is Carrie Underwood’s first season as a permanent Idol judge, stepping into the role previously held by Katy Perry. As a former Idol winner herself, fans expected Carrie to bring both empathy and insight to the panel. While she’s earned praise throughout the season, her critique of Jamal has clearly caused a stir, leading some to question her judging approach.
Despite the drama, Jamal advanced to the Top 3 alongside Breanna Nix and John Foster. All three will compete for the Season 23 crown during the grand finale on Sunday, May 18 at 8 PM ET on ABC.
As finale night draws near, the focus will be on the performances — but also on Carrie Underwood, whose first season as a judge is ending with plenty of attention, for better or worse.
