Jamal Roberts may have earned a key to the hearts of at-home audiences during his time on American Idol, as is evidenced by his first-place finish in the show’s most recent season, but the Meridian native will not be accepting a key to the nearby city of Laurel during an upcoming concert.
Roberts, who is set to perform at Laurel’s Noir & Blanc concert on Aug. 2, has preemptively declined the symbolic gesture ahead of his time on the main stage. The singer had previously been honored with a key to the city of Atmore, Ala., during a mid-June performance. In Mississippi, local event planner Drake Paige announced on social media that Laurel Mayor Johnny Magee planned to replicate the gesture when Roberts arrived in the Pine Belt.
The news prompted a whirlwind of feedback, both positive and negative. While countless users expressed enthusiasm that Roberts would be acknowledged in such a manner, others were not as thrilled about the announcement. Most detractors were peeved that others who had given back to the Laurel community were not honored with a key to the city. However, a smaller number of commenters were violent with their rhetoric.
“Although I am appreciative, I did not ask for it, but I am thankful,” Roberts wrote under Paige’s post.
The former elementary P.E. later took to Facebook Live to further discuss the matter. Roberts was sure to let it be known that he was not intimidated by threatening comments. He further emphasized that he had no prior knowledge that he would be handed the key to Laurel, a city under an hour away from his hometown, and that he was not interested in the gesture.
“You have people sharing the post, making threats, talking about they’ll have guns at the event. Clearly, they don’t know where I’m from, but we’re going to keep that in the box. I wasn’t threatened by it at all,” Roberts said.
“As far as the key to the city, I don’t want it. I didn’t even ask for it,” he continued. “That’s what people keep getting [upset about]. They’re getting upset because other people are ‘deserving’ of the key to the city, and they feel like I shouldn’t get a key because I’m not from Laurel. I didn’t ask for no key. I don’t even care about no key.”
While Roberts was appreciative that leadership in Laurel considered him for a key to the city, he was not interested in being part of an unforeseen controversy, especially one he had no hand in sparking. Instead, he encouraged officials to give the key to other prominent figures who have had a lasting impact on the community.
Laurel boasts plenty of legends in both entertainment and sports. The city is the home to internationally-renowned soprano soloist Leontyne Price, Olympic long jump gold medalist Ralph Boston, former NSYNC band member Lance Bass, and many more stars. Recently, Ben and Erin Napier have given the 17,000-person city a spot on the map with their hit HGTV show Home Town.
Roberts, who still plans to perform in Laurel, has three additional Mississippi shows lined up in the coming months. More details can be found here.
