A lesbian contestant who was eliminated from The Voice called out Kelly Clarkson for stereotyping her. But according to Clarkson, the former contestant twisted her words.
Molly Stevens, an openly gay ex-contestant on this season of The Voice took to Instagram in a now-deleted post calling Clarkson “small minded” for a comment she made during the battle rounds. Stevens alleges that The Voice host and O.G. American Idol winner compared her to the Indigo Girls and Melissa Etheridge because she is a lesbian.
“While I’m extremely honored to be in that category of talent I do believe that comment did us all a disservice and only threw us into a labeling trap,” she wrote. “It felt small minded to me and exactly what I feel we need to bring attention to the world.” She added, “I am a singer songwriter who happens to be gay. And so is @melissa_etheridge and @indigogirlsmusic. Glad I can work through this one today on a carousel in Central Park with my mom and niece. But it’s a common stereotype that happens too often. People put us in boxes.”
Some fans lambasted Stevens on social media, calling her a “sore loser” and pointing to Kelly Clarkson’s long-standing advocacy for the LGBTQ community. Eventually, word got back to Clarkson, and she took to Twitter to quash the story, insisting Stevens culled her words “conveniently.”
“Wow. This really bums me out. I need everyone 2 hear me & hear ALL OF THE WORDS I SAY,” Clarkson wrote. “I compared Molly to Melissa Etheridge, Patty Griffin (a name that was left out conveniently), & the Indigo Girls purely because of the rasp in her voice & that she’s an amazing storyteller.”
Wow. This really bums me out. I need everyone 2 hear me & hear ALL OF THE WORDS I SAY. I compared Molly to Melissa Etheridge, Patty Griffin (a name that was left out conveniently), & the Indigo Girls purely because of the rasp in her voice & that she’s an amazing storyteller. https://t.co/Ci5fqDKzA3
— Kelly Clarkson (@kelly_clarkson) March 27, 2018
Now, Molly Stevens is apologizing effusively for her error.
“I sincerely apologize for any hurt I may have caused with my words. This was not my intention at all,” shetweeted. “For the people who know me well, you know my heart well too. I strive to live in truth and light. @kelly_clarkson I truly apologize for thinking differently. I look up to you.”
I sincerely apologize for any hurt I may have caused with my words. This was not my intention at all. For the people who know me well, you know my heart well too. I strive to live in truth and light. @kelly_clarkson I truly apologize for thinking differently. I look up to you.
— Molly Stevens Music (@mollystevens_1) March 28, 2018
The fans were rightClarkson has been a loud and proud ally for the LGBTQ community. Her 2013 music video “Tie It Up” featured a same-sex couple. And in February of last year, Clarkson personally reached out to a queer contestant on The Voice who performed Clarkson’s song “Piece By Piece.”
She wrote, “Can’t. Stop. Crying. Her vulnerability and her story ….just wow. Steph, I hope ur parents open their hearts 2 the beautiful person u r!”
She also told Pride Source that if one of her kids came out as gay, she wouldn’t care.
“I’d be like, ‘Awesome! When do we meet him or her?’ Honestly, it’s so funny, it doesn’t even register in my world as different. I don’t know why. But yeah, it doesn’t. I’m glad it doesn’t!”
Not to get all #LeaveKellyAlone, but Kelly Clarkson is pop music’s purest star, a beacon of light in the fraught world of pop stardom, and our lives would suck without her.
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