American Idol fans on the West Coast are expressing outrage over a recent elimination that they believe was rigged. Many viewers claim they were unable to participate in the voting process due to ‘closed voting’, a practice that left them feeling cheated and deprived of the chance to support their favorite contestants, such as Nya and Jordan Anthony.
The contentious elimination took place on Sunday night, when Nya and Jordan bid farewell to the competition. The episode featured the Top 14 contestants taking on songs by Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees, with Gene Simmons of KISS making a special guest appearance as a mentor and judge.
Fans took to social media to vent their frustrations, particularly on the American Idol official Instagram page, where they demanded answers and expressed their belief that the voting was unfair. One fan commented, ‘There should never be closed voting for the west coast broadcast. Leaving out half the country is unbelievable.’ Another lamented, ‘Really stinks that people can’t vote in PST TIME ZONE. Entire Seattle market cannot watch out live.’
The disparity in voting opportunities between the West Coast and other time zones has been an ongoing issue for American Idol fans on the West Coast. Despite repeated complaints, the show has yet to address the concerns, leaving many to question whether any changes will be made to ensure a more equitable voting process.
In the meantime, the remaining Top 12 contestants will take to the stage tonight to perform Billboard #1 Hits, with pop star Meghan Trainor joining the panel as a guest mentor and judge.
