AMERICAN Idol star Megan Danielle has called out Iam Tongi after he made a cheeky dig at her on Instagram.
Iam shared a selfie with Megan and fellow Idol finalist Colin Stough in the car on their way to Nashville for a concert on Wednesday.
GettyAmerican Idol star Megan Danielle has called out Iam Tongi[/caption]
InstagramShe slammed him after he cheekily covered her face with Instagram tags[/caption]
The Hawaii native, 18, tagged everyone in the photo – but place the tags over Megan’s face so that you couldn’t see her.
He shared the snap on his Instagram Story on Wednesday.
Megan reposted the shot and wrote, “Iam really covered me,” and added a tearful face emoji.
Iam, Megan and Colin got together to play a free show in Nashville, Tennessee,
Iam promoted it last week, announcing on Instagram: “Nashville! I’m playing a free show at @thevalentinenashville next week with some of my friends.
“If you’re in town make sure to stop by!”
American Idol has been plagued with rigging allegations following Iam’s season 21 win.
But a PR expert has said that regardless of the allegations, both Iam and runner-up Megan are likely to skyrocket.
Eric Schiffer, chairman of the Los Angeles-based firm Reputation Management Consultants, spoke exclusively to The U.S. Sun about the allegations fans have been making online about Idol being rigged.
“There are a few people that believe that there was some cabal between producers, executives and the judges that said they must vote a certain way,” Schiffer told The U.S. Sun.
“NDAs and confidentiality provisions would somehow mask all this.
“What likely may have happened if there was any ‘rigging,’ it was a rigging of emotions in that you have a sympathetic singer whose father had recently passed and whose kindness and positivity mixed with musical talent swayed humans, in some ways maybe not even consciously.”
Iam performed several tributes throughout the season to his late father, Rodney, who passed away before the season premiered.
He quickly won over the hearts of fans with his story of loss and went on to win the competition, with Megan placing second.
But some viewers seemed to think the true champion was cheated and accused the result of being fixed.
RIGGING ALLEGATIONS
Both Megan and Iam have addressed the rigged allegations following the season finale.
Danielle rejected the claims made by fans and set the record straight.
“I would say that it isn’t just because, you know, I feel like God made all of this happen for a reason,” the former waitress told the New York Post.
“Even if I was first, second, last, whatever … I feel like any of us really deserved it.”
The 20-year-old added: “I feel like Iam was deserving and he’s so humble and so talented.”
“And this was his time and I’m just super proud of him.”
Tongi, meanwhile, credited his late father with preparing him for the negativity and backlash.
“My dad always told me that your music’s not meant for everyone. There’s going to be people that are not going to like it and that’s OK, that’s normal,” Iam told DailyMail.com.
“Everyone gets their own opinion. Everyone gets to think what they think. So, it’s fine.”
GettyShe was going to a concert in Nashville with Iam and fellow finalist Colin Stough[/caption]
ABCThe show was hit with rigging allegations after Iam won the competition[/caption]
GettyIam was a fan favorite from the start of season 21[/caption]
