AMERICAN Idol fans have mocked Real Housewives of Salt Lake City star Britani Bateman after her “cringey” appearance at her niece’s audition.
The reality star accompanied her niece, Carmen, as she performed before judges Lionel Richie, Carrie Underwood, and Luke Bryan on Monday night’s show.
Although Britani, 54, was only there for moral support, she made quite the entrance as she demanded the judges’ attention by clinking a wine glass with a butter knife.
“I have an announcement to make,” the TV star said before introducing her niece by singing her nickname, Carmelita.
Britani then shifted the attention to herself and asked the celebrity panel if they knew who she was; however, their reaction didn’t seem to be what she’d hoped.
“Do you know me?” she giddily asked before revealing her first name.
After receiving silence from the judges, the TV personality shared her full name, only to be met with blank stares.
Carmen then stepped in to explain that her aunt was on RHOSLC, but it didn’t seem to impress the judges.
“But this is not about me,” Britani said. “This is about my amazing, gorgeous, perfect niece, who you’re about to hear, and it’s insane.”
Carrie joked that Britani could use the knife she was still holding against them if they didn’t like her niece’s performance.
“Well, if we don’t have good things to say, she has a knife; she has a weapon,” the Season 4 American Idol winner said, prompting Britani to laugh and teasingly hold the butter knife in their direction.
Luke then directed Britani to stand to the side to “give away the spotlight” to Carmen, who took her position at the piano.
However, the Bravo star stalled the audition once again by asking the judges if they wanted the knife and wine glass that she was still holding.
They agreed to take it, and she handed both to Lionel before returning to her assigned spot.
The audition finally got underway as Carmen sang a rendition of Thought It Was Love by Ty Myers, while Britani wiped away tears beside her.
The judges had positive feedback for the 20-year-old singer and seemed to have made a decision, until Carmen revealed that she and her aunt had prepared another song to sing together.
After getting the panel’s approval, Britani then accompanied Carmen for a duet of Let Me Be Your Star from SMASH, which included Britani belting out some high notes.