Is the $250K American Idol Prize a Lie? Jamal Roberts Claims He Hasn’t Been Paid

American Idol Season 23 winner Jamal Roberts hasn’t received his $250,000 prize yet, but plans to bank it for his daughters’ future.

American Idol has been bringing about some of the most musical talents to the screens for quite a while now, not only granting them fame and recognition by providing them with a stage but also awarding them with tremendous feats that others can only dream of. Like how the recently concluded season 23 had a cash prize of $250,000.

This prize was awarded to Jamal Roberts, who stunningly won the reality competition broadcast on ABC. However, now that dreamy amount of cash prize seems like a lie considering the recent turn of events, since the latest winner claimed he still hasn’t been paid despite having already won the contest more than a week ago.

Jamal Roberts claimed he hasn’t received his American Idol prize yet

Jamal Roberts. | Credits: American Idol / ABC.

Jamal Roberts, who used to be just a P.E. teacher from Meridian, Mississippi, until a little while ago, really left everyone stunned when he was announced as the winner of American Idol season 23 for performing the most sensational rendition of Tom Odell’s Heal during the finale. The prize money he bagged for the same was a baffling $250,000.

However, in an interview with Us Weekly on May 27, a little over a week after winning the competition on May 18, Roberts confessed that he had yet to see his prize money.

Talking about the grand prize he should have long received, he said:

No, I haven’t received it. Don’t know where it is. I’m interested in knowing.

This might, of course, make some believe that the massive cash prize might actually be a lie. But that’s probably not the case, as, hopefully, the delay won’t be much longer for Roberts, and he’ll receive his cash prize soon. On the other hand, ABC might as well start giving more support and publicity to its winners and treat them better.

Jamal Roberts won’t make any “big splurges” with his prize money

Jamal Roberts. | Credits: American Idol / ABC.

While it’s one thing that he hadn’t received his prize money yet when he gave that interview to Us Weekly, Roberts also talked about what he intended to do with that tremendous prize once he got his hands on it. And, mind you, the singer with spectacular vocals does not seem to be looking forward to spending it on materialistic gains.

Turns out, instead of planning to make any “big splurges” with that grand prize, Roberts claimed he is “gonna put it in the bank.”

For the record, the 27-year-old is a father of three young daughters, namely Harmoni, Lyrik, and Gianna. Judging from his plans to put the money in the bank, he must be saving it for their future.

Besides the prize money, Roberts also won a trip for four on the Disney Wish cruise line for beating out runner-ups John Foster and Breanna Nix in the season 23 finale. This vacation notably includes world-class dining, Disney entertainment, and character experiences, plus a stay at Disney’s private island, Castaway Key.

American Idol can currently be streamed on ABC (USA).