‘America’s Got Talent’ Season 12: Celine Tam’s Dad Steve Tam Exploiting Daughter’s Success?

“America’s Got Talent” Season 12 contestant Celine Tam’s dad, Steve Tam, is rumored to be exploiting his daughter’s success on the hit NBC reality TV competition.

On Sunday, the patriarch announced the release of his upcoming album and took the time to respond to allegations that he did not finish a doctorate degree. At the event, Mr. Tam also apologized to local artist, Nancy Sit Ka-yin, after she accused him of stealing her students, according to the South China Morning Post.

Read: Will Darci Lynne Farmer become the winner of “America’s Got Talent” Season 12?

“I will step up my efforts to learn and improve. Everyone has his own past. I have my shortcomings. As a father, in my journey of life, my children have given me a very good opportunity to learn. I will constantly improve myself, change myself and be a good person. In the future, I will do everything I can to be a good father,” he said.

Tam also showed off his doctor of philosophy certificate in business administration from the Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology in the Philippines.

Meanwhile, the 9-year-old “America’s Got Talent” contestant quickly rose to fame after she auditioned in front of judges Simon Cowell, Howie Mandel, Mel B and Heidi Klum. Prior to her performance of Celine Dion’s hit song, “My Heart Will Go On,” Celine first won the hearts of the audiences when she told them that she and her younger sister, Dion, were named after the singer, making everyone laugh.

After Celine’s audition circulated online, some fans claimed that her dad has been cashing in on her talent. Steve did not directly respond to such allegations, but he said that his daughter enjoys singing very much. “After Celine was born in 2007, I discovered that she loved singing. I was singing coach and so I decided to nurture her. The more I nurtured her, the happier she was. I then talked to my wife and asked if I should open a school to teach singing. I wanted to help more children,” he said.

Celine will be competing in the next round of the competition, but her spot in the live shows hasn’t been secured yet since she did not receive a golden buzzer.

“America’s Got Talent” Season 12 airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. EDT on NBC.