'American Idol' winner Jamal Roberts turns down key to Mississippi town after threats
Roberts was crowned the winner of Season 23 of the singing competition show in May, earning the majority of the 26 million votes cast in what host Ryan Seacrest said at the time it was the "biggest finale vote in show history," according to People magazine.
Ahead of several concerts scheduled across his home state, Roberts became embroiled in some municipal drama, however, after a local concert promoter posted on social media that Mayor Johnny Magee of Laurel, Mississippi, gave him permission to give Roberts a key to the city.
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The announcement followed a June show in Atmore, Alabama, where Roberts and his kids were given a key to the city. The town had "made us feel like we were at home," Roberts told the crowd at the time.
"Thank y'all for loving on my babies and accepting me just the way I am," he wrote on Facebook at the time.
The possibility of the same honor in Laurel was met with less enthusiasm, however, after Roberts revealed there had been negative comments and threats, including people saying they would bring guns to the Aug. 2 concert where he was supposed to receive the key.
Roberts said some were angry because he doesn't live in the town and had cited others who they said live in the area and deserve the honor.
"I did not ask for a key to the city," Roberts said in a Facebook Live. "Y'all should get it and give it to them, somebody that's deserving, I guess. … You know, been working in the community for years. But I don't want it."
Roberts politely declined and thanked the mayor, adding: "But, respectfully, keep it." He still plans on performing at the late-summer concert.
The Clarion-Ledger, part of the USA TODAY Network, has reached out to the mayor's office for comment.
What to know about Jamal Roberts
Roberts was a P.E. teacher at Crestwood Elementary School in Mississippi before appearing on "American Idol."
A girl dad to three daughters – Harmoni, Lyrik and newborn Gianna – he's the first Black man to win the singing competition since Ruben Studdard took the Season 2 title in 2003.
He tried out for the show twice before coming back and winning it all. Ultimately, his golden ticket moment came this year with a rendition of "Mary Jane" by Rick James during the audition rounds.
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