And the American Idol Top 5 becomes a Top 4.
That’s because Caleb Kennedy, 16, from Roebuck, S.C., has left the show after a video surfaced of him sitting beside someone who was wearing a Ku Klux Klan hood.
You have to figure the show gave him the boot, though that’s not clear from the official statement coming from both sides.
Idol simply released a statement saying: “American Idol contestant Caleb Kennedy will no longer be moving forward in the competition. Sunday’s episode will feature the Top 4 with one contestant elimination.”
As for Caleb, the country singer apologized on social media, writing:
“Hey y’all this is going to be a bit of a surprise, but I am no longer going to be on American Idol. There was a video that surfaced on the internet and it displayed actions that were not meant to be taken in that way.
“I was younger and did not think about the actions, but that’s not an excuse. I want to say sorry to all my fans and everyone who I have let down.
“I’ll be taking a little time off social media to better myself, but saying that, I know this has hurt and disappointed a lot of people and made people lose respect for me.
“I’m so sorry! I pray that I can one day regain your trust in who I am and have your respect! Thank you for supporting me.”
Caleb’s family told the Spartanburg Herald-Journal that the video clip was shot when he was 12.
“I hate this has happened and how Caleb is being portrayed by people online,” his mom, Anita Guy, told the newspaper. “This video was taken after Caleb had watched the movie ‘The Strangers: Prey at Night’ and they were imitating those characters. It had nothing to do with the Ku Klux Klan, but I know that’s how it looks.
“Caleb doesn’t have a racist bone in his body. He loves everyone and has friends of all races.”
Caleb leaves the competition as the Top 5 were preparing for Sunday’s semifinal show, at the end of which three finalists will be selected.
And he leaves the competition after one of his strongest performances, an original song he wrote for his Mother’s Day dedication.
And Idol’s once-promising Season 19 is sputtering toward a conclusion.
Sunday’s episode also featured the elimination of Arthur Gunn, a Season 18 contestant who was brought back for Season 19 as part of a comeback twist.
The result: Lots of pissed off fans who thought the comeback twist was unfair. And turning Arthur, Season 18’s runner-up, into a Top 5 finisher on Season 19.
Idol made one of its biggest mistakes in deciding to advance country singers Cecil Ray and Caleb to the Top 24 instead of Alex Miller, a better performer and one who seemed more ready to embrace the Idol spotlight.
Cecil was arrested shortly after the episode in which he was eliminated from Idol aired.
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Yet another “Idol” controversy.
Following Frenchie Davis, Vanessa Oliverez, Corey Clark, Lisa Leuschner, Suzy Vulaca, Mario Vazquez, Scott Savol, Antonella Barba, Sanjaya, David Hernandez, Ricky Braddy, Kristen McNamara, Felicia Barton, Jesse Langseth, Ju’not Joyner, Mischavonna Henson, Alex Lambert, Lilly Scott, Katelynn Epperly,, Heejun Han, Jermaine Jones, Tim Urban, Lauren Turner, Kendra Chantelle, Pia Toscano, Vincent Powell, Creighton Fraker, Aaron Marcellus, Nick Boddington, Lazaro Arbos, Quentin Alexander, Ashley Hess, Ryan Hammond, Dennis Lorenzo, Uche, Dimetrius Graham, Jeremiah Lloyd Harmon, and Lauren Spencer-Smith.
Let’s not forget Kevin Covais advancing over Gedeon McKinney and Ayla Brown.