Cowell Blasts Chicago Day Recipient, Jennifer Hudson

Jennifer Hudson’s career has exploded ever since she was voted off of the hit tv show American Idol. The singer-actress has won multiple awards including an Academy Award for best supporting actress, and now the city of Chicago has given Hudson a day in her honor.

Mayor Richard Daley proclaimed yesterday (March 6th) as “Jennifer Hudson Day’’ to honor the rising star, whose Cinderella story took her from Chicago’s South Side to the Hollywood A-list.

"She’s an inspiration to everyone who has a dream,’’ Daley announced to a gathering of screaming fans. “People told her ‘You can’t.’ And she said `I can’.’’

Meanwhile, things aren’t all roses for Hudson. The singer has openly criticized Simon Cowell and Idol in recent interviews.

In response, Simon Cowell has blasted Jennifer for calling American Idol “a stepping stone” - insisting she wouldn’t have been cast in Dreamgirls without the US talent show.

Hudson was a contestant on the show in 2004, but was voted off before the final. Hudson blamed Simon for getting her voted off of the show with his remarks, but video evidence proves that Simon had nothing but praise for Hudson. The only instance of the often harsh Cowell being critical came in what most feel was her worst performance, as it strayed from her style.

Over a year later, Hudson auditioned for the role of Effie White in the big-screen version of the musical Dreamgirls and was cast.

When Hudson accepted her Best Supporting Actress Oscar for Dreamgirls last month, Cowell was disappointed that she declined to mention the show.

He complained: “Jennifer Hudson said American Idol was a ‘stepping stone’ for her. Stepping stone? It was her big opportunity to become noticed and she got noticed and she got Dreamgirls. Singers like her deliberately turn against the show that made them successful. The reason people come on the show is because all the doors had been slammed in their face.”

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