After a whirlwind two hours of live “American Idol” voting results that left 10 singers vying for the last four spots in season 23’s top 14, judges Carrie Underwood, Lionel Richie, and Luke Bryan announced who they’d chosen to advance in the competition on April 21, 2025.

Fan reaction to the results was so intense that one singer who made it through, Thunderstorm Artis, made a late-night plea for kindness to his social media followers, revealing that some contestants had received “death threats” in the hours since the live episode ended.

Six contestants were sent home — Isaiah Misailegalu, Drew Ryn, Olivier Bergeron, Baylee Littrell, Zaylie Windsor, and Victor Solomon — and as that reality set in, some of them took to social media to express their sadness over leaving and gratitude for the experience.

Amanda Barise Says Online Comments Have Been ‘Brutal’

Many of the top 14 contestants jumped online to celebrate moving forward, but some of their joy was dampened by fans’ harsh reactions to the results, with some spewing their anger on social media over the judges’ choices and the talent who were sent packing.

Posting what he called a “PSA” for his followers hours after the live episode, 29-year-old Artist — the oldest contestant remaining in the competition — spoke up in a video, urging viewers to think before they type.

“I’ve been hearing some really sad, sad, upsetting news that a couple of my fellow contestants and former contestants from this season of ‘American Idol’ have been receiving just a lot of hate here on social media, man, and even death threats, like for real,” he said.

Noting that by signing up for “Idol,” they all knew they were going to be “judged” by viewers online, Artis said he found the level of hatred disappointing “because I just think we can do better as a world and as a people and it just really breaks my heart.”

Amanda Barise, who was the last contestant to perform after learning she was in the bottom 10 and then the last one to learn the judges had voted her through for her rendition of Aretha Franklin’s “Ain’t No Way,” replied to Artis that “the comments have been brutal” but she was trying not to look much at social media.

After the show ended, she did post several photos on Instagram from her performance and wrote, “I made it to the #Top14 on @AmericanIdol! ✨ I sang for my life tonight on LIVE TELEVISION… I’m so grateful for this journey, everyone who’s voted, and all the love and support — thank you TO THE JUDGES from the bottom of my heart for a second chance, I won’t let you down! ❤️ #amandaonidol”

The top 14 will now start preparing for the Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame show with music legend James Taylor as their guest mentor on the April 27 episode. Many who made it through also posted their shock and gratitude, including 16-year-old Mattie Pruitt, who thanked her fans “from the bottom of my heart!”

Filo also posted a brief video in his Instagram Stories during the show, squealing into his phone camera, “Guys, I just made it to your top 14 — aaaaaagh!”

Breanna Nix revealed that she was shocked to make it through, writing in a post, “I been fighting through allergies and nerves! What a MOMENT. AH. How is this possible!?!? Singing to celebrate!! YAY! I will never forget this. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU AMERICA for voting for ME. 😭 I am truly so honored! I am working and pushing myself so extremely hard. Thank you!!”

Contestants Who Didn’t Make Top 14 React & Thank Fans

Solomon heard from several of his “Idol” co-stars after captioning his collection of photos, “That’s a wrap on American Idol! Thank yall for all of your support! Yall reminded me that I do have a major support system! NOW STAY TUNED CAUSE THIS WAS ONLY JUST A STEPPING STONE!! 🚀 to GOD be ALL the Glory!!! 🤲🏽”

Filo, who did advance to the top 14, responded, “You’re incredible my brother!!! Only going up from here🔥”

Another eliminated contestant, Drew Ryn, posted several Instagram photos of herself onscreen during the show and wrote, “Well……..At least my glam team had me looking snatched. Thanks to everyone who tuned in for my #IDOL journey. This is just a peace out for now… you’ll see me on Instagram again tomorrow. ❤️😅 love you all.”

Seventeen-year-old Misailegalu posted a photo with his family and wrote, “This journey has been the most amazing experience in my life. The BIGGEST thank you to @americanidol for gifting me the name Samoan Silk, allowing me to make a lot of life-long friendships, kickstart my music career and give me the best starting place I could ever ask for🙏”

Windsor, 18, wrote in her Instagram Stories, “Well, that’s a wrap on American Idol!! thank you all so SO much for voting, sharing, commenting, liking, supporting, everything”

At the time of publication, the morning after their eliminations, neither Bergeron or Littrell had posted since the top 14 results were revealed.