Several American Idol fans criticized Ryan Seacrest for his commentary during the show’s latest episode on Monday and things got a little heated.
The 48-year-old television personality made a comment to one of the contestants, saying, “You sang ‘Lose You To Love Me.’ We might lose you tonight,” which sparked negative reactions from some viewers.
Several fans took to Reddit to voice their opinions on Seacrest’s behavior, with one user describing his commentary as “nasty,” “brutal” and “evil.” Another user criticized Seacrest for “not softening any blows” with his comments, while a third called him a “d***.”
Ryan giving results like ripping off a Bandaid #AmericanIdol pic.twitter.com/5Eqa7BZZOa
— Cairenn Rhys (@SpiritedQuill) April 25, 2023
However, not all fans were critical of Seacrest. One Reddit user praised the host for keeping the episode moving at a fast pace without it feeling rushed, stating that he deserves his paycheck.
Seacrest has been the host of American Idol since it first premiered in 2002, initially co-hosting with Brian Dunkleman during the first season. The show ended in 2016 but was later revived in 2018, and Seacrest has remained the host throughout.
In a previous interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Seacrest spoke about how American Idol had changed the entertainment industry’s perception of TV competition winners.
He believed that the show’s format had the potential to last for many years and be watched by generations of viewers aspiring to become the next winner.
Despite the criticism, Seacrest’s commentary did not appear to affect the show’s ratings, and American Idol continues to be one of the most-watched singing competition series on television.