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'Ex-American Idol' judge Kara DioGuardi says her recent clash with TV reporters was 'hurtful'
Former "American Idol" judge, Kara DioGuardi, appeared in front of a room of television reporters at the Television Critics Association press tour to promote her new reality competition show for Bravo, "Platinum Hit." In the end, her appearance generated the wrong kind of headlines after she refused to answer questions about her former TV gig.
"I thought it was out of place to be talking about 'Idol' when they were debuting their show," DioGuardi tells Zap2it. "And the producer was there and [host/judge] Jewel was there. It just didn't feel like the right forum."
As we reported, there were some people in the room who booed her for refusing to answer. Then, things escalated when one reporter yelled out, "You're here, because of that show." In response, DioGuardi defended her resume.
"I felt that was a little bit hurtful," she says. "But I understand they're just trying to do their job. But at the same time, I'm somebody who owns Arthouse and we have songs from our writers for Carrie Underwood and Flo Rida. Ari Levine is one of our writers and he's up for seven Grammy noms. He co-wrote all the Bruno Mars stuff... That's my company. I work at Warner Bros. I've sold many, many records, had a lot of hits. And I felt I needed to convey that and that I had the credentials to be on a songwriting competition."
She then adds, "I think what's hurtful, too, is then you read, 'Oh, DioGuardi's a diva.' I didn't quite get that I was being a diva. I was really trying to be respectful to the people around me that were on that panel."
DioGuardi says that her refusal to answer 'Idol' questions didn't mean that she doesn't cherish her time on the FOX show and she says that she learned a lot from the experience.
"I knew nothing about television," she tells us. "And being around people like Ryan Seacrest, Simon Cowell, Randy [Jackson], and Ellen [DeGeneres] - it's just you soak that in. And in a way, they became like mentors. Just the way you see them conduct their business or the way that Simon would take an audition and flip it like a producer and hone in one thing. The way that Randy had such a great character -- he was so accessible with such humanity. You can feel him through the TV. You don't just wake up being a television personality."
At this point, DioGuardi can laugh about her clash with the reporters. "I am a songwriter," she jokes. "I do get paid to be sensitive."
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I think people (and the media) need to give Kara a break...She IS a talented songwriter, and in fact, a great singer, too, if you've heard her. Reporters may be just doing their jobs, but sometimes, those certain people can really be DB's.
Max, seriously, you must be one of a very few fans that still praise this woman; a woman who is an ego-maniac and so full of herself it's not even funny. She helped caused the downslide last year on AI and she's only talented in her own mind. She couldn't judge talent if it was presented to her via a flow chart.
As for this hack, if she can't take the heat, then she needs to stay out of the limelight as she is in a business where she will get criticized at times, and the reporter is right..if it wasn't for AI, nobody would know she even existed. It's a fact!
Well, at least I know what I'm talking about, Sylvester...doesn't matter if anyone knows her or not...her resume speaks for itself, with all the hit songs her and her company have penned. And do some research on her, why don't ya...It's fine if you don't like her, but it's just your opinion.
Kara has always been a class act. Give her a break. Sylvester, go chase some mice.
I'm with Coco, er, Max
I don't agree that she was always a class act. In fact, I found her to be very unprofessional on AI a lot of the time. It was off-putting.
As for her resume, she may be a talented songwriter, but she wasn't writing songs on AI so it's really not relevant to the discussion of how she was as a judge or as a TV personality. Her resume gave her credibility coming into the job, but that's it. After that, she needed to be liked and respected by the audience and clearly she missed the mark (or she wouldn't have been let go).
i don't find her appealing at all.
Why do people begrudge Kara or anyone else for getting a job. If you don't like her...simply don't watch her new show. To blame her for Idol's fall is laughable. Idol hasn't been relevant since season 3 and that proof is in the pudding of the winners and other contestants who can't sell enough records/MP3s to chart. Idol is a game show...nothing more...nothing less.
Bad enough that Kiara got the not so royal shaft on Idol. She didn't go looking for Idol, they sought her out, hired her, then got rid of her when they no longer wanted her. It was all done in a shabby, unnecessary way. A show that caters to millions cannot be so big that they feel empowered to treat people badly and publicly. Shame on Idol.
"Idol hasn't been relevant since season 3 and that proof is in the pudding of the winners and other contestants who can't sell enough records/MP3s to chart."
I bet Carrie Underwood would beg to differ.