‘I Appreciate The Criticism’: American Idol Alum Clay Aiken Explains Why It Was Good The Judges Were Tougher Back When He Competed

American Idol Season 23 will premiere at 8 p.m. ET Sunday, March 9, on ABC.

Simon Cowell was largely considered the meanest of the original American Idol judges, but there’s a chance that rudeness was faked for TV.

Randy Jackson, meanwhile, agrees with Clay Aiken and has spoken out about singing competition judges being too nice.