Amanda Barise’s journey to the Top 14 on American Idol Season 23 has generated a whirlwind of reactions from fans and viewers alike. Following her performance, which did not secure enough public votes, the judges opted to save her, igniting a debate across various social media platforms. While some fans lauded her vocal talent, others expressed confusion and disagreement with the judges’ decision, ultimately questioning the alignment of the judges’ choices with audience preferences.
Audience Reactions to Amanda’s Advancement
As Amanda Barise was propelled into the Top 14 through a judges’ save, many viewers took to platforms like Twitter to voice their opinions. A significant portion expressed dissatisfaction or concern over her progression in the competition.
“Amanda is awful. I’m not sure how she made it through; all she does is scream her music. I can’t even listen to it #AmericanIdol,”wrote a frustrated fan.
“I like Amanda, but she has to learn breath control 🤷🏾♀️ #AmericanIdol,”a user commented.
“#AmericanIdol these judges suck. Their blatant bias for these ‘underdogs’ Josh, Amanda, and Madi is what caused the real competitors to go home too early. Now I remember why I stopped watching this show years ago. Done watching,”another viewer stated.
The responses highlighted diverging opinions, particularly concerning Amanda’s song selections and vocal delivery, as critics raised questions about her performance style and suitability for the show.
“I guess they had to pick at least one weak link 🤷 #AmericanIdol,”a person wrote.
“Amanda is very talented, but she chooses the worst songs to sing; I don’t understand her,”another tweet stated.
“I liked Amanda’s song choice better than Gabby’s. I wanted Gabby to win the spot, but I didn’t like her song choice. Great song but not American Idol type of song. She did it well. #AmericanIdol,”a fan said.
Support for Amanda Amidst Controversy
In contrast to the criticisms, a faction of viewers passionately defended Amanda Barise, commending her vocal skills and expressing support for the judges’ decision to retain her on American Idol.
“Wow! Amanda’s got the voice of Aretha Franklin! #AmericanIdol,”a supportive user commented.
“I knew @carrieunderwood wouldn’t let Amanda go – she’d be top 3 vocals – Gabby, Kolbi, Amanda! #AmericanIdol,”another viewer asserted.
“All I needed was @CheChesterman & Amanda. Thank you, judges. 😭🩵 #AmericanIdol,”tweeted a fan messaging their gratitude.
Highlights from the Top 14 Results Episode
The episodes aired on April 20 and 21 represented a pivotal moment in Season 23, as the competition narrowed its roster from 24 contestants down to 14. The April 20 episode, themed around “songs of faith,”showcased performances that resonated with spiritual or inspirational messages.
With the audience allowed to cast their votes based on these performances, the results ultimately determined which contestants advanced. For those who fell short, however, a second chance was still possible.
Judges Luke Bryan, Lionel Richie, and Carrie Underwood were empowered to save five contestants facing elimination. This “save” feature enabled the judges to keep artists they felt still held potential, despite low public acclaim.
Notably, Kyana Fanene, Grayson Torrence, MKY, and Penny Samar were among those who did not advance to the Top 14. Following the announcement, the judges exercised their saves to keep Desmond Roberts, Josh King, Ché, and Amanda Barise in the contest, intensifying the ongoing conversations regarding the decisions being made behind the scenes.
Catch all episodes of American Idol on Hulu for ongoing developments.