Nothing was as it usually is on Sunday night’s (May 17) American Idol season finale. The contestants were all singing in their homes due to the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, Katy Perry had to perform on a green screen set instead of a big stage in Hollywood and host Ryan Seacrest had to pull his old Idol logo out of mothballs and set up shop in his garage to host the two-hour coronation.
Also, Seacrest didn’t seem to be quite himself. As the show progressed, viewers noticed that something seemed a bit off with the typically unflappable, consummate professional host. His speech sounded slurred at points and his left eye seemed strangely larger and more wide-open than his half-shut right eye.
A spokesperson for Seacrest, 45, responded to the questions on Monday morning (May 18), telling People in a statement — confirmed to Billboard — that Seacrest, 45, had not suffered a neurological episode, as some speculated, but instead was exhausted from burning the candle at both ends.
“Ryan did not have any kind of stroke last night,” the rep said of Seacrest, who also raised eyebrows by not taking his place alongside Kelly Ripa on Live with Kelly and Ryan on Monday morning. “Like many people right now, Ryan is adjusting to the new normal and finding work-home balance, with the added stress of having to put on live shows from home. Between Live with Kelly and Ryan, American Idol, On Air with Ryan Seacrest, and the Disney Family Singalong specials, he has been juggling three to four on-air jobs over the last few weeks and he’s in need of rest. So today he took a well-deserved day off.”
When asked for further comment, the representative referred to the People statement. According to the magazine, Seacrest is expected back on Live this week.
Check out some of the tweets below.
