Overview

• During the Sept. 23 live performances, Mel B told Micah Palace to be nice to everyone backstage or he would meet them on the way down.
• Simon Cowell interrupted to say he had seen Micah backstage behaving politely and called Mel B’s remark “out of order,” prompting applause from the audience.
• Micah apologized on-air for any perceived disrespect and said he was raised to treat people respectfully.
• Subsequent reporting said Mel B framed her comment as passing on guidance she received as a young performer.
• No backstage misconduct has been independently verified, and the season 20 winner was scheduled to be announced Sept. 24 on NBC.