‘American Idol’ Winner Jamal Roberts Turns Down Key To Mississippi City After Receiving Threats: ‘Respectfully, Keep It’

Jamal Roberts

‘American Idol’ Winner Jamal Roberts Turns Down Key To Mississippi City After Receiving Threats: ‘Respectfully, Keep It’

American Idol Season 23 winner Jamal Roberts is turning down honors amid disturbing backlash in his home state.

After a local promoter for an upcoming August show announced that Roberts would be receiving the key to Laurel, Mississippi, the singer shared that he received threatening messages from locals. Some felt he didn’t deserve the honor because he doesn’t live in Laurel and believed others more connected to the town were more deserving.

Now, Roberts is politely declining the honor. In a Facebook Live, he said,

“I did not ask for a key to the city… Y’all should get it and give it to them, somebody that’s deserving, I guess… I don’t want it.”

 

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He thanked the mayor and added,

“Respectfully, keep it.”

Despite the controversy, Jamal is still scheduled to perform at the August event.

Thoughts?