American Idol Contestant Todrick Hall Involved in a Scandal

Another American Idol scandal has been reported. This time it's not over past musical experience, but a past business deal.

Top 24 contestant Todrick Hall met numerous complaints surrounding a botched Children's production he directed.

The Idol hopeful charged $50 audition fees to every child who participated in his musical theater productions. Unfortunately for Hall, the project fell into financial ruin.

Despite the production being met without success, Hall failed to refund the $50 audition fees to parents' of participating children.

Hall has claimed that he is doing what he can to refund the money and that, as a director, it is not necessarily his responsibility to ensure the refunds occur.

Some of these angry parents and their supporters, do not believe Hall should be allowed to participate in American Idol.

So far there has been no word from American Idol producers as to whether or not this will impact his qualifications for the show.

While ripping off hopeful children and their parents is a terrible thing, what effect does this really have on Hall's talent? It's not as if every musical star is morally straight or has never ripped off fans, committed crimes, or even stolen money.

The rules of American Idol refuse those who have had prior musical deals, but not those who have botched past business deals. If American Idol were to send him packing due to a past business scandal, they would be stepping way out of line.

In the long run, American Idol is a show decided by the people. If audiences want to punish Hall for his business scandals than they are free to do so. All it will take is the withholding of votes on performance nights. Those who don't think business scandal and musical success are mutually exclusive are free to vote away for Hall to be the next American Idol. Talent, not business deals, should be the greatest factor.

Whatever happens to Hall, American Idol producers should not have a say in it. Charging $50 for a failed production without refund is hardly a horrid crime and hardly something to force a contestant out of the show for.