Here’s more media from the press line after last Wednesday’s emotional American Idol Top 7 episode. We haven’t really heard much from Harry Connick Jr. regarding his on-air argument with Quentin Alexander. Here, he opens up to a reporter from Extra TV.
Harry was “a little bit surprised” by Quentin’s reaction to him. “…only because it’s a great honor and a gift to be part of this show,” he said. “When I heard the phrase ‘This whole thing is wack,’ that did surprise me. I was surprised than anyone who’s had this opportunity would say it.”
But Harry preferred not to dwell on the subject. “I think he [Quentin] seems like a really nice guy, and I think he got caught up. It’s happened to all of us…moving on.”
“I knew I wanted to go down there,” said Quentin in an interview with Synergy, about his interaction with Harry, “But in that moment, it got a little more intense than it usually is, which I’m happy about. ‘Cause I was feeling some emotions sitting in my seat waiting to be called that I used in my performance, which made it all the more intense.”
“What I did with Harry–it was all fun and games to me. It was a moment that I love and I hoped everyone else loved.” Quentin said about the confrontation. He stressed, once again, that he didn’t intend to disrespect anyone. “It was just me being honest,” he said. “I wasn’t saying that American Idol was wack. I wasn’t saying that the judging was wack, the competition was wack. That moment of one of your friends who you love being ripped away from you is wack. That’s what I meant.”
People go through these things. But the difference for Quentin was that his moment was aired on TV. He’s glad, because it shows viewers that the contestants feel things. “It’s not all fun and games and happiness. We have genuine emotions. It’s a reality television show.”
American Idol mentor, Scott Borchetta, is TOTALLY #TeamQuentin. “I want to applaud Quentin for what he did,” said Scott. “He’s a very emotional guy. He’s a very smart guy. He doesn’t need to take grief from anybody. He felt very strongly about what he said.”
Scott goes on to talk about how hard it is for artists to be judged. “They did join a competition, but there are those moments of ‘Why am I competing against other artists?’ You know what? Good for him. And good for him calling Harry out.”
“Great art happens because it’s connected to great emotion,” said Scott.
Jax had an interesting take on what she thought was going on with Quentin as the drama unfolded. “He needs to clarify,” said Jax about Quentin, “He needs to know that the right message is out there. That’s the type of person he is.”
