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Clay Aiken has his receipts against Simon Cowell , decades after getting crowned as the runner-up in the second season of ‘ American Idol .’ The 47-year-old singer recalled the criticism he got from the reality show mogul, who reportedly snarked a back comment on his looks for becoming a pop icon.

Clay Aiken remembered being called ‘ugly’ by Simon CowellAiken, the singer whose debut album went multi-platinum, remembered that Simon Cowell stated that he did not look great but had a good voice. When asked whether the reality show judge’s method of comments actually works for the show, Clay Aiken responded in an interview with TV Insider, “He called me ugly. Is that what you’re saying?” Furthermore, the ‘Rewind’ singer explained that Cowell came from the world of entertainment, “Simon came from a world where it was all about the image, not necessarily looks. It was all about the image. In my audition , he said that I didn’t look like a pop star , but that I had a great voice.”

Speaking about 2003, Clay Aiken expressed that there was a great dilemma at the time, whether the country was going to vote for contestants who looked like pop stars or who sang better. Naming the participants who were the Top 12 of Season 2, the singer stated, “Carmen Rasmusen – gorgeous! Trenyce, gorgeous! Kimberly Caldwell, gorgeous! And then you had me, and well, Ruben, who was a big guy.”

About Clay Aiken’s ‘American Idol’ seasonCommenting on the warmth between the judges and contestants, Aiken shared that Simon Cowell was always supportive and gave a hug after someone got cut. In ‘ American Idol Season 2 ,’ Ruben Studdard took the title home on the show that garnered millions of views. However, Clay Aiken came in a close second after getting consistent votes throughout the season.