Lionel Richie Tells American Idol Contestant 'I Don't Like You, I Don't Like Your Attitude'

Why is Lionel even doing this show? God knows he doesn't need the money.

Lionel Richie is alive? Is it to late to add him to the death pool?

If only he'd told Nicole that when she was two...

This dumb show is still on?

Is this from 2020??

I don't like you. Don't like the way you talk.... I don't like the way you walk.... Don't like your haircut! You kids think you [bold]own[/bold] this beach--think it's a teenage world! Well, you're dead wrong!

This will be followed with a "just kidding" style gag, obviously. Typical producer shenanigans.

Lionel Richie is a fugly, faded 80s singer who rode on Michael Jackson's coattails. Why is he giving out career advice when he hasn't had a hit since 1988?

Anybody else tired of these cheesy shows resurrecting stars of yesteryear? Is Adam Ant available?

I bet Lionel Richie can still lay some good pipe!

R7 That will probably be it. "I don't like you...................I LOVE YOU!!!!"

I wish a judge would actually be honest on one of these shows. The worse one I remember was Naomi Judd on the Arsenio Hall Star Search revival. She would go on and on about how great the person was and then give them an extremely low score. My college roommate and I made a drinking game out of it.

R7 you’re probably right. The whole strikes me as strange because he’s so obviously the American Idol type just by looking at him, and why is this random clip being released to People before the show even comes out?

I know who it was before clicking. This guy was full of ego and attitude, something was off about him. Perhaps using the show not for music but for a modeling career? He wasn't a good singer either

[quote] Is it to late to add him to the death pool?

Is it too late for you to add your extra O?

You guys are pathetic, automatically siding with the white trash simply because he is white.

Social media praised Richie for saying this and "doing his job, finally".

There is a reason he is being harsh to the dude, and it is because the asshole was put through to Hollywood last year and he decided last minute to bail without saying anything to anyone and just not show up because he felt he was better than the show. Clearly he wasn't, as he came back and apologized to the judges and asked for a second chance, which they lectured him first and then gave him the ticket through. They weren't easy on him this time, as they let him know his ego is going to be his downfall, and that was why Lionel tore into him a bit. Lionel then told him that he is someone who is clearly used to being loved and adored, but not everyone is going to like you in life, especially in the music industry, so he needs to grow up and humble himself some if he is serious.

Honesty is not always the best policy. How about saying hardly anything and simply move on? How about being tactful, polite or offering construction criticism? A major star has no right saying something so harmful and rude to a guest on national television in a singing audition.

Just because Richie said, “I’m just being honest” does not give him the right to embarrass and humiliate a guest on the show. How about being less honest and more kind, asshole?

R15 shut up!!! You are one of the fuckers always claiming this show needs a Simon Cowell again, as the judges dont judge anymore but just sit and praise everything. Now that one is finally deciding to be tough they are wrong? Wait, let me guess, because he is black? Because you sure were someone who wanted Simon back.

He would have not only been way more harsh, but wouldn't have even given him another chance.

This site used to praise the fuck out of Simon for tearing apart the contestants, but when Lionel says something negative he is wrong? The hypocrisy and double standards on this site are what is killing it.

[quote] Honesty is not always the best policy. How about saying hardly anything and simply move on? How about being tactful, polite or offering construction criticism? A major star has no right saying something so harmful and rude to a guest on national television in a singing audition.

[quote] Just because Richie said, “I’m just being honest” does not give him the right to embarrass and humiliate a guest on the show. How about being less honest and more kind, asshole?

The judges (singers) on these talent shows are supposed to give their honest opinions. If what R14 said is true, then Lionel Richie's critique was warranted.

Lionel Richie seems like a really nice person. For him to be perceived as mean is unusual.

Good for Lionel...fuck everyone else.

[quote] You guys are pathetic, automatically siding with the white trash simply because he is white.

Please link to one post, any post, in support of the contestant over Lionel. I saw none.

You’re the pathetic one.

That tour with Mariah turned out really well. Two-for-one tickets on Groupon.

R16. I don’t watch American Idol and never posted a response to anything related to American idol, Simon Cowell, Lionel Richie or any other celebrity judge or contestant.

So, you’re wrong, 100 percent wrong with no basis for commenting on my response or motivation for it.

ABC is spending a lot of money on this show and the ratings aren’t there.

Expect many more shenanigans and stunts from these clowns.

It’s just that when they ended the first AI, it seemed so final and complete. They then decided that it needed a reboot...and for what?

Has Lionel cum in Katy’s hair yet?

Please. These "judges" do as the producers tell them to. They most likely filled Ritchie in on this contestant's past with the show and told him to give the kid a hard time. There is nothing real or organic about this show.

I've never seen the show, but watched the clip. Wow, I love that blazer Perry has on. It looks like an afghan quilt my mom had when I was a kid, but made with sequins. Not having seen the show before, I don't know how out of context his comments are. I think it was rather rude and seemed to want to hurt the contestant. Maybe he was bad? Or maybe they just wanted to create a viral moment, and threw the kid under the bus. I think it was wrong of him to say he "didn't like" him, when he probably doesn't know him.

I thought Lionel was to be playing the role of Paula Abdul?

[quote]I thought Lionel was to be playing the role of Paula Abdul?

Paula had her moments where she wasn’t having that cocky bullshit from contestants.

[quote] They then decided that it needed a reboot...and for what?

You really need to ask that?

So is the kid going to be on the show?

This is nastiness for the sake of controversy and trying to drum up ratings. If that's Ritchie's opinion, he has every right to express it and give the young man a dose of reality, but to broadcast it to millions of people and humiliate the boy is pretty despicable.

It's why I never watched Simon Cowell or American Idol or any of those shows. A multi-millionaire, world-famous, entertainment-industry insider sneering to a worldwide audience about the flaws of a young person is disgusting. If they want to give an honest appraisal to an aspiring performer, do it privately in a way that helps the kid improve, not in a way that leaves them devastated and the butt of jokes to millions of people.

It's especially ironic, as R3 pointed out, that Ritchie's daughter is a no-talent wannabe who would be working retail in a dying mall somewhere if she hadn't had the good fortune to be adopted by rich and famous parents.

Leading with "I don't like you" (as opposed to a critique of his performance) shows that either Lionel Richie is a cruel asshole or he's somebody who will do or say anything in an effort to go viral.

Either way, he comes out looking bad.

That girl in r29 s vid is a proto Nicki Minaj. A cunt to end all cunts.

It's a shame they're still milking this dead cow of a show. They should have let it die in 2016 and given people a chance to miss it. Maybe, one day, years down the line, the original judges would have gotten nostalgic for it and been willing to come back for a reboot. Even just a six year break, and then returning in 2022 for the 20th anniversary, might have been nice. Now it's just permanently doomed to being this pathetic ghost.

[quote] If that's Ritchie's opinion, he has every right to express it and give the young man a dose of reality, but to broadcast it to millions of people and humiliate the boy is pretty despicable.... If they want to give an honest appraisal to an aspiring performer, do it privately in a way that helps the kid improve, not in a way that leaves them devastated and the butt of jokes to millions of people.

The public critique and humiliation is the entire premise of the show. These judges don't get paid for giving private critiques.

Kelly Clarkson is the only winner who has staying power. Her talk show sucks, but she’s still here.

Ummmm HELLO R37

R31 - he got a golden ticket straight to Hollywood, like last year.

Good, r39. He's adorable. What's his name?

Lionel Richie: "I'm just being honest."

No, asshole. That's your opinion. Stick it up your ass. Try being more tactful and professional. You can offer criticism without being mean, degrading and hurtful.

But when Simon is worse DL praises him.

WTF is Katy Perry wearing?

Contestants want to be judged or no? They want to take criticism with an audience watching, or not? Lionel didn't rip him apart. He doesn't like him. It's fine, what he said.

Lionel wants him to humble himself. And he is right.

Is there a name for the contestant or a link to this clip in context?

here it is... they’re not hard on him at all.

Is he dancin on the ceiling?

I have no idea why people are saying Lionel wasn't tactful or give constructive criticism.

This kid is a smug little prick with a history of irresponsibility, and Lionel showed him that he if continues America will hate him.

Has Lionel Richie met his own daughter Nicole Richie.

So, no Endless Love for the contestant.

R34 Not to mention off key as fuck. R43 Katy Perry is too stupid and obnoxious to watch for more than 10 seconds. And you know she paid a ridiculous amount of money for the homemade afghan from someone's trailer.