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.

A smiling woman with long brown hair, wearing a black leather jacket and earrings.
Real Housewives of Salt Lake City star Britani Bateman accompanied her niece on her American Idol audition, which aired on Monday nightCredit: ABC
 

An image collage containing 1 images, Image 1 shows Lionel Richie and Carrie Underwood seated at a judge's table
Fans mocked Britani for looking ‘foolish’ on the show after the judges didn’t know who she wasCredit: ABC
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.

Carmen’s voice ended up winning over the judges, who offered her a golden ticket to Hollywood.

Fans, however, thought Britani’s involvement in the audition was “unnecessary” and mocked her for making herself look “foolish” on TV.

“That Real Housewife of Salt Lake City aunt was annoying af. She wanted so bad to be on Idol and promote herself (more than her niece). Disgusting. Made herself look foolish,” one person wrote on X.

“Why is American Idol allowing that SLC housewife chick in there, corny and moreover, unnecessary,” said another.

“That woman from the real housewives of Salt Lake City was ANNOYING AF,” a third complained.

“If you don’t realize auditioning with your reality star aunt is a bad idea.. where’s Simon [Cowell] can we get Simon for just this,” someone else reacted on Reddit.

“LOL This is so embarrassing for her,” commented a fifth.

“Lol do you know me…. Crickets,” remarked a sixth.

“The Real Housewife segment might be the most cringey thing ABC Idol has done, and that’s saying something,” added a seventh.

Britani joined the RHOSLC in Season 5 and returned for Season 6, which premiered in September 2025.

A smiling woman with long brown hair, wearing a black leather jacket and a "B" necklace, holds a small, flat wooden object.
Britani entered the audition room carrying a butter knife and a wine glass, which she used to introduce her niece, CarmenCredit: ABC
 

Two women smiling, one with long red hair and the other with long blonde hair.
Britani performed a duet with Carmen at one point in the auditionCredit: ABC
 

A woman with long red hair sings into a microphone while playing a white piano.
Carmen won over the judges and received a golden ticket to HollywoodCredit: ABC