Clay Aiken Reveals Simon Cowell Once Called Him 'Ugly' — His Idol Comeback Was Inevitable

Seite 1 / 2

News (1 / 1) 17.05.2026 06:56 / Peter

Return to the spotlight

Clay Aiken surprised viewers when he stepped back onto the American Idol stage to sing his new single "Rewind" — and he also reopened a long‑standing chapter about harsh early critique. He recalls a blunt comment from judge Simon Cowell that he didn't "look like a pop star" and even remembers being called "ugly" on camera. Read on to discover the full story!

A painful audition memory

Despite Cowell's remark that his image wasn't typical pop star material, Aiken says the footage is real and that the comment stuck with him. Even so, audiences kept voting and his performances made him one of season 2's most talked‑about contestants.