U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) delivers an ?America First response? to the U.S. President Joe Biden?s State of the Union speech from a hotel room in Washington, U.S., March 1, 2022.
U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) delivers an ?America First response? to the U.S. President Joe Biden?s State of the Union speech from a hotel room in Washington, U.S., March 1, 2022. Reuters / LEAH MILLIS

KEY POINTS

  • Viral footage showed a woman who resembles Marjorie Taylor Greene auditioning for "Americal Idol" during its first season in 2002
  • The woman introduced herself as Stefanie Sugarman, then 23 and from Alta Loma, California
  • The rumor was debunked, with reports confirming that Sugarman is indeed a real person

Some social media users seem to think that Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene once auditioned for "American Idol," but multiple reports have debunked this claim.

The rumors began after an old clip began circulating on social media showing a lookalike of the Republican representative from Georgia auditioning for the first season of the singing competition series.

The viral footage posted Sunday on Twitter by user @FLKDayton showed a young woman who introduced herself as Stefanie Sugarman auditioning in front of the original "American Idol" panel, comprising Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson, in 2002.

At the time, she said that she was 23 years old and from Alta Loma, California.

The woman, who could pass as the 48-year-old politician's doppelganger, was eliminated from the competition following her performance of "Knockin' Da Boots" by H-Town.

The Twitter user suggested that the woman in the video may have used a stage name to conceal her real identity, writing, "Marjorie Taylor Greene's tryout for the first season of 'American Idol' under a stage name lmao. What a loser."

The throwback clip has garnered over 1.2 million views and hundreds of comments since being uploaded.

Political activist Daryle Lamont Jenkins debunked the rumor, tweeting, "No way in hell would this be Marjorie Taylor Greene and we are just finding this now. 'American Idol' debuted in 2002, the year her father sold Taylor Commercial to her and her husband. And she was living in Georgia at the time."

The Hill reporter Zack Budryk commented, "If you are genuinely concerned about misinformation and the devaluing of truth, you shouldn't give Marjorie Taylor Greene an opening to reasonably complain she was the victim of a media hoax [in my opinion]."

The journalist added that he felt "genuinely bad for that 'American Idol' lady," Sugarman, as "a bunch of nominal progressives are giggling about how ugly she is."

TMZ also debunked the speculation that Greene auditioned for "American Idol" Season 1, reporting that Sugarman is indeed a real person.

Public records obtained by the outlet showed that Sugarman lived in Alta Loma, Rancho Cucamonga, and San Bernardino County in California.

She seems to have since gotten married and now goes by a different last name, according to the outlet. Her age matches up as well, and she is now 43.

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"QAnon Anonymous" podcast host Travis View did his own digging and wrote on Twitter that "none of the biographical details" provided by Sugarman matched with the Georgia representative's records.

View also provided screenshots showing the age restriction and requirements to audition for "American Idol," adding: "Marjorie Taylor Greene was not eligible to audition for the first season of 'American Idol.' The cut-off age was 24 and Greene was 27 when 'American Idol' held its L.A. auditions in April 2002. The application form for 'American Idol' requires ID for proof of age."

Greene and her representatives have yet to release a statement regarding the rumors.

marjorie taylor greene
US Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, Republican of Georgia, stands alongside fellow first-term Republican members of Congress on the steps of the Capitol in Washington, D.C., Jan. 4, 2021. SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images