David Foster has come under fire for saying his wife, Katharine McPhee, was "fat" during her time on "American Idol." After a video of the couple performing in 2023 resurfaced , fans are calling out Foster for remarks he made about his wife's body while onstage. “You may not know we met 17, almost 18 years ago when I was a little chubby and cheerful contestant on ‘American Idol,’” McPhee, 40, tells the crowd in the video.
McPhee then gestures to a screen behind them showing a photo of her and the legendary music producer during Season Five of “Idol” in 2006. “Oh yeah, you were fat,” blurts out Foster, 74, who appeared as a mentor on the show that season. McPhee then makes light of her husband’s remark.
“I was a little chubby, OK? I was just young,” she tells him. TODAY.com has reached out to Foster and McPhee for comment.
Foster’s remark sparked a backlash among social media users who blasted him in the video's comments. “Yikes what is wrong with him?” one asked. “WOW this is not endearing, cute or sweet .
.. it’s sad,” wrote someone else.
Many said Foster’s remark about McPhee's body was especially troubling in light of “She has a ED and that is what the F he says,” wrote one. “Not okay at all. Wowowoowow,” added another.
In June 2006, shortly after being crowned the runner-up on "Idol," McPhee opened up to magazine about her five-year struggle with bulimia. The singer said she was caught in a cycle of bingeing and purging and only .
