American Idol rigging allegations may have been ‘masked’ after Iam Tongi won season 21

AMERICAN Idol has been plagued with rigging allegations following Iam Tongi’s season 21 win.

But a PR expert has said that regardless of the allegations, both Tongi and runner-up Megan Danielle are likely to skyrocket.

Eric Schiffer, chairman of the Los Angeles-based firm Reputation Management Consultants, spoke exclusively to The U.S. Sun about the allegations fans have been making online about Idol being rigged.

“There are a few people that believe that there was some cabal between producers, executives and the judges that said they must vote a certain way,” Schiffer told The U.S. Sun.

“NDAs and confidentiality provisions would somehow mask all this.

“What likely may have happened if there was any ‘rigging,’ it was a rigging of emotions in that you have a sympathetic singer whose father had recently passed and whose kindness and positivity mixed with musical talent swayed humans, in some ways maybe not even consciously.”

Tongi performed several tributes throughout the season to his late father, Rodney, who passed away before the season premiered.

He quickly won over the hearts of fans with his story of loss and went on to win the competition, with Danielle placing second.

But some viewers seemed to think the true champion was cheated and accused the result of being fixed.

RIGGING ALLEGATIONS ADDRESSED

Both Tongi and Danielle have addressed the rigging allegations following the season finale.

Danielle rejected the claims made by fans and set the record straight.

“I would say that it isn’t just because, you know, I feel like God made all of this happen for a reason,” the former waitress told the New York Post.

“Even if I was first, second, last, whatever … I feel like any of us really deserved it.”

The 20-year-old added: “I feel like Iam was deserving and he’s so humble and so talented.”

“And this was his time and I’m just super proud of him.”

Tongi, meanwhile, credited his late father with preparing him for the negativity and backlash.

“My dad always told me that your music’s not meant for everyone. There’s going to be people that are not going to like it and that’s OK, that’s normal,” Iam told The Daily Mail Online.

“Everyone gets their own opinion. Everyone gets to think what they think. So, it’s fine.”

‘TWO ROCKET CAREERS’

Schiffer said that even amidst the chaos of the rigging allegations, neither Tongi nor Danielle is losing out.

“So we don’t have AI (artificial intelligence) judges for a reason right now,” Schiffer said of the competition show.

“If we’re purely and solely looking at music, he may or may not have won. And that’s the scandal and the dark comments coming from the internet and fans.

“But humans don’t just sort only on one thing even if they justify it logically that he may be better.”

Schiffer also said that he doesn’t believe there is a loser in the situation.

“His [Tongi’s] victory will help his career but a runner-up that handles herself with such grace and has incredible talent will in many cases go on and does even better,” Schiffer said.

“So you’re likely to see two rocket careers, not just one.”