Kelly Clarkson recently opened up about the reaction some in the entertainment industry had to her American Idol win, and how some of them went on to work on reality music shows.

What did Kelly Clarkson say about her American Idol win?

Speaking during a recent appearance on Kylie Kelce’s Not Gonna Lie podcast (via People), Clarkson opened up about her infamous American Idol win in 2002, when she was the first person to win what would become a pop culture staple. According to Clarkson, though, many in the music industry were not very receptive to the idea of a show like American Idol.

Clarkson said that she had “no one” when she won, and that people in the industry were “really mean.” In an ironic twist, Clarkson joked, those same people (who she wouldn’t name) would later go on to become coaches in some capacity on The Voice.

“I had no one. I was the first winner,” said Clarkson. “It was hard. Not to sound like, whatever, it was really hard,” Clarkson said. “People were really mean. People that were really mean have been coaches. You know what I’m saying? Like, hated talent shows. And they ended up being on The Voice.

“It’s like, okay. But people were really cruel at first. They didn’t like it. It took the industry kind of by storm, the talent shows. It was a very unlikable thing in the industry concerning the populous.”

Clarkson finds the situation “hilarious” now, as shows like American Idol, The Voice, America’s Got Talent, and more have become some of the longest running and biggest television programs in the country.