“That one questionable save” — American Idol fans react to Josh making it to the Top 14

Josh King from American Idol Season 23 | Image via Instagram/ @officialjoshking
Josh King from American Idol Season 23 | Image via Instagram/ @officialjoshking

On American Idol Season 23, Josh King's rise to the Top 14 has sparked a firestorm of debate among viewers. Josh was one of the four competitors saved by the judges after not receiving enough public votes; he will now compete in the next round alongside Desmond Roberts, Ché, and Amanda Barise.

Although his performance of Rick Astley's Never Gonna Give You Up was meant to demonstrate his dedication, many people thought it was insufficient.

Josh King has seen both progress and setbacks during his time on American Idol. The 24-year-old airport pianist from Charlotte, North Carolina, encountered his first setback during his audition and was given a "no" by judge Carrie Underwood. But he made progress thanks to Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie, who recognized his distinct style as promising.

Josh has made an effort to vary his performances throughout the competition, stepping outside of his comfort zone and experimenting with various genres. Supporters were upset that other gifted vocalists like Victor Solomon and Drew Ryn were not given a judges' save, and the backlash grew more intense.

Numerous individuals contended that these performers merited advancement because they had shown better performances all season. Debates concerning the judges' selection criteria have been triggered by the choice to save Josh, which has resulted in charges of partiality.

An American Idol viewer posted,

"Josh over Drew? Idk about that one, there always seems to be that one questionable save... kinda like Jordan Anthony last year. No shot Josh makes it past the next cut"

Another admirer shared on Reddit,

"I would’ve picked Drew over Josh but vocally the other 3 deserved their spot"
"Josh was terrible tonight. I don’t care for how fun a performance is when the vocals were really bad. It was bad," another comment read.
A person shared, "When they called Josh and Desmond, I told myself its over :'("

A few fans of American Idol, however, expressed their happiness about Josh making it to the Top 14.

A Reddit user wrote,

"I physically clapped when they saved Josh. Physically clapped. I don’t even know who I am when I watch this show."
"Did you at least do it Paula-style? For real, though. So happy they saved Josh!" another fan left a comment.

Josh King makes it to the Top 14 of American Idol Season 23

Josh King's American Idol Season 23 journey took a sharp turn when the public vote put him in danger. Nevertheless, he advanced to the Top 14 after the judges recognized enough potential in him to award him one of the four sought-after saves.

Josh's distinctive lounge-style voice and tenacity were evident, despite the mixed reviews of his performance of Rick Astley's Never Gonna Give You Up. Now that Josh has a second shot, everyone is waiting for him to demonstrate that he is more than just a contentious save.


Follow Josh King's journey on American Idol Season 23 on ABC.

Edited by Deebakar