LOL! John Legend Trash Talks ‘Arrogant Bastard’ Blake Shelton After ‘The Voice’ Finale

Whoa! John Legend had some harsh words for his rival The Voice coach Blake Shelton after beating him on the season finale on Tuesday night (May 21) — but it was all in good fun.

Legend and Shelton were the only two coaches left with contestants in the finals headed into the deciding night, and Shelton, not surprisingly, kicked off the trash talking on the red carpet before the finale.

“I like John, but he can kiss my ass,” Shelton joked to E!," adding “This is a competition. Until this thing wraps ... he is the enemy."

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Shelton went into Tuesday with the deck seemingly stacked in his favor; he had three contestants in the final four, including Gyth Rigdon, who was an odds-on fan favorite to win among country fans. Legend had just one, Maelyn Jarmon, but as it turned out, one was all it took. Jarmon was crowned the winner of Season 16 of The Voice, while Rigdon came in second. Dexter Roberts placed third, and Andrew Sevener came in fourth.

Legend took the opportunity for a little trash-talk payback in speaking to reporters after his win.

“I really love Blake and I’ve really enjoyed getting to know him this year. He’s a very arrogant bastard,” he teased at the winner’s press conference following the finale (quote via People). “I had a feeling he was going to kiss someone’s ass after this show and I was right.”

Season 16 marks Legend's first year as part of the coaches lineup for The Voice, so it makes his win particularly sweet. Shelton has been with the show since the beginning and won more seasons than any other single coach in the show's history.

Shelton and Legend have both been announced to return for Season 17 of The Voice, along with their fellow season 16 coaches, Adam Levine and Kelly Clarkson.

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