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Kelly Clarkson Hits Back After Gay ‘Voice’ Contestant Calls Her ‘Small-Minded’

Kelly Clarkson

Kelly Clarkson (Photo: Christopher Polk/Getty Images)

Katie Jerkovich Entertainment Reporter
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Kelly Clarkson hit back after a gay contestant on “The Voice” called her “small-minded” for comparing the competitor to singers like Melissa Etheridge.

“Wow. This really bums me out. I need everyone 2 hear me & hear ALL OF THE WORDS I SAY. I compared Molly [Stevens] to Melissa Etheridge, Patty Griffin (a name that was left out conveniently), & the Indigo Girls purely because of the rasp in her voice & that she’s an amazing storyteller,” the 35-year-old singer tweeted, along with a link to a screenshot to Voice contestant Molly Stevens’ post.

LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 10: Singer Kelly Clarkson accepts Best Pop Vocal Album award for "Stronger" onstage at the 55th Annual GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on February 10, 2013 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

Singer Kelly Clarkson accepts Best Pop Vocal Album award for “Stronger” onstage at the 55th Annual GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on February 10, 2013 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

The comments come after Stevens, who was eliminated from the show, called the “Voice” judge “small-minded” for comparing her voice to other gay performers in a since-deleted Instagram post.

“While I’m extremely honored to be in that category of talent I do believe that comment did us all a disservice and only threw us into a labeling trap,” Stevens wrote after her elimination. “It felt small minded to me and exactly what I feel we need to bring attention to the world. I am a singer and songwriter who happens to be gay.”

“And so is [Melissa Etheridge] and the [Indigo Girls],” she added. “But it’s a common stereotype that happens too often. People put us in boxes.”

The eliminated Voice contestant has since apologized “for any hurt” she may have caused.