“American Idol” Season 23 winner Jamal Roberts quickly became the subject of heartwarming headlines and viral rumors following his big win on May 18, 2025. Among the most shared claims across Facebook, Instagram, X, and Threads was that Roberts had donated his entire $500,000 prize to Crestwood Elementary School in Meridian, Mississippi, where he previously worked as a physical education teacher. According to the posts, Roberts had promised to renovate the school and provide free education for students from low-income households.
Despite the feel-good nature of the rumor, there is no credible evidence to support the claim. No verified news outlet reported such a donation, and a fact-check by Snopes confirmed the story as false. In a video interview with Us Weekly posted on May 28, 2025, Roberts himself said he had not received his prize money yet, and that he planned to put it in the bank. He made no mention of a donation or any such pledge.
Additionally, the claim that his donation would fund free education is misleading. Crestwood Elementary is a public school and part of the Meridian Public School District, meaning it is already tuition-free and funded by taxpayers. The rumor appears to have originated from a misleading YouTube video posted by a channel called “Digital Media” on May 24. The video spliced together real footage of Roberts with unrelated clips, including a segment featuring a different man who falsely claimed Roberts had made the donation. The language in that video matches closely with posts that began circulating soon after.
Another key inaccuracy was the repeated mention that Roberts is 23 years old, when in fact he is 27. The channel responsible for the video also lacks credibility, describing itself as a “news channel” focused on deceased celebrities and funeral content, which further casts doubt on the legitimacy of its reporting.
Though the viral story has been debunked, Jamal Roberts remains a positive figure for Crestwood Elementary and the Meridian community. The school district posted a congratulatory message for him on its official website, recognizing his success and continued support for the students. While he may not have donated his prize money, Roberts’ journey from teacher to “Idol” winner is still inspiring—and worth celebrating for what it truly is.
