American Idol: Porn Idolgate - What The Fans Are Saying
March 2, 2007
The American Idol - Antonella Barba scandal continues and since she was not sent home last night we can bet it will not go away soon.
Here's a sampling of what the fans are telling us. Thanks to all of you who emailed Reality TV Calendar and shared your thoughts.
The hypocrisy of AI incenses me. Frenchie was kicked off for doing something perfectly legal with the proclamation that AI is "a real family show." Why then, is this case (Frenchie) deemed inappropriate while pictures of Antonella engaging in illegal activities (underage drinking, possibly the War Memorial) are perfectly appropriate for impressionable young audiences?
Another thing that concerns me is how far future contestants will go to generate their own buzz? I'm quite sure that at this very moment there are many future AI hopefuls posing for their very own "shocking, scandalous" photos to be released at a strategic point in the competition. The farther Antonella gets, the more likely this scenario becomes.
Angela - California
Antonella's attitude.
In my opinion American Idol needs to take the moral high ground on this one. Millions of young girls need to get the message that their personal poor moral decisions may have an affect on their futures.
She should not be allowed to come back on the stage....in my opinion.
Rob - North Carolina
What I want to know is why are more American's not making more noise. This girl climbed all over a WWII Memorial at night (because she knew it was illegal), half dressed to take sexy photos. Who cares where the pictures came from, who cares who leaked them? They are out there now and the Memorial pictures are clearly her. It's a War Memorial!! Is it ok for our youth to go and do that anywhere they feel like it? It's ok? And why isn't the news talking about this. The more graphic ones are not her. Who cares about those, STOP ignoring what she did to federal land in Washington DC. Land that is used as a Memorial to our fallen hero's. To many families whose men never came home, this is their cemetery to pay tribute and grieve. This is a big deal.
How dare she stand on the same stage that a member of the Armed Forces is competing on? Phil Stacey is in the military. How does he feel about her being on there after what she did to a War Memorial?
Ann - U.S.
I agree, Antonella should be voted off tonight (last night). She is a poor performer but even worse than her performance is her attitude. Both nights she snubbed her nose at any constructive criticisms offered by the judges. Simon said it best "...there are those with no talent and huge egos" He did not name names but I will - "Antonella." Vote her off America we have enough untalented arrogance in Hollywood!
Dan - Maryland
She may get further in the competition, but she won't win. She doesn't have the talent, character or the persona. In recent years voting sites pushed certain less talented singers along, like Scott Savol, but they eventually got voted off.
The sad part is she is taking up a space in the competition that could have gone to someone more deserving.
If I recall correctly, she was the last of the girls into the top 12, and I thought the girl she bumped was better.
Plus, the fiasco her and her bff created at the group sing, fighting over the song, and her friend clearly flirting with the guys, and then blatantly lying about it on air? This caused Baylie Brown to be excused...suffice to say, their behavior was suspect all along. So why not suspect this was all planned and the pictures leaked? This is the same bff who claims the sex act pictures aren't Barba.
Sad that these little girls are screwing up the whole show...it just leaves a bad taste.
Kris - Illinois
I think this is ridiculous! If Frenchie Davis from season 2 can get kicked off for having nude photos on a porn site, why isn't Antonella getting canned? American Idol... do your job and treat everyone the same
Josephine - Florida
This beautiful girl has no singing talent. She should be voted off! But because of her looks and her nude and risky photos she will stay and make all the other contestants angry. Nobody, I mean nobody should stay on a singing competition because of beauty. It's not fair. The same thing happened last year with Kelly Pickler. Although I have to admit her voice was much better than Antonella's. It's too bad that the average looking beauty has to always fight her way through life. I mean Antonella no harm, but she needs her butt kicked off AI.
Maxx - Ohio
The first thing I thought of was Frenchie Davis. How can they say that these types of pictures don't represent the show as a family show and then forget about that and say its okay? Or is it just because Antonella is a more "conventional" beauty. If there is anything to comment about here it's not about her talent, or whether they should kick her off for the pictures or not, what is controversial here is that they are totally contradicting
Leslie - Quebec
Since when is AI bound to be a moral compass for American youth? It's an audience vote-in TV show where talent may or may not be the primary reason that contestants receive votes. The judges can say all they want about it being a singing contest, but some very good singers probably never make it to the final rounds...and some who do, still don't win. AI is about talent, to some extent - but it's also American TV schtick supreme. Drama, charisma, perception are part of the formula. It may not be fair, but that's the way it is. Hopefully, and usually, the talent does rise to the top and I doubt anyone will win who is simply a publicity stunt - but who knows?
Lela - Arizona
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