American Idol Gone Bad
Tarnished Idol: The Sordid Pasts of American Idol Contestants
When I hear the word "idol" I think of someone who you can look up to. It should be a person who is unblemished by the going-ons of everyday life. It's not to say that they are perfect, because no one is perfect. An idol should have a reputation as such that parents of children can feel comfortable letting their children watch and listen to these people.
With the recent events on American Idol, I am disappointed that American Idol has accepted contestants with arrest records. I commend the contestants for being forthright with the producers of American Idol but still disapprove of them remaining on the show. The people who compete on American Idol should be people whom children and teenagers can look up to.
It is like the Miss America Pageant. We don't allow women who have appeared nude for the Playboy magazine to compete. Neither should we allow contestants on American Idol compete if they have arrest records that includes drug use.
It is hard for me to say this because I come from the state where the recent discoveries of past drug use by Bo Bice was revealed. Coming from the state of Alabama I want him to win, but I don't want a person who has past history with drugs to represent my state or represent the name of American Idol. In both cases it should be embarrassment to the company they represent.
Corey Clark was kicked off the second season after Idol learned about his arrest for assault. Now tell me, is this the kind of role model that we want our children to have. We also have Jaered Andrews who was booted from the semifinals after Idol learned about his possible involvement in a murder.
He was later acquitted. But does that really matter. Even the thought of his possible involvement is enough, I believe, to be dismissed from the show. I believe Idol's reaction was good. And we also have Frenchie Davis who was dropped from the show after photos appeared of her posing topless on a porn website.
The difference between Bice and the past contestants is that Bice was upfront about his past. In my opinion, that shouldn't matter. An arrest record is a arrest record, regardless of when Idol learned about it.
Maybe I am being too nick-picky. If I am, I don't want to come across as such. I just believe that our children should have good role models to look up to. That is pretty rare to find in today's society.
After the reveal of Bices' past drug use, it tarnished my image of this contestant. At this point, I would like Bice to win but then again I don't. In seems, though, that Bice has cleaned up his act and leads a different life than before.
Should it matter that he had a past? I would think it would if you have children that watch this television show. This is just my humble opinion.
With the recent events on American Idol, I am disappointed that American Idol has accepted contestants with arrest records. I commend the contestants for being forthright with the producers of American Idol but still disapprove of them remaining on the show. The people who compete on American Idol should be people whom children and teenagers can look up to.
It is like the Miss America Pageant. We don't allow women who have appeared nude for the Playboy magazine to compete. Neither should we allow contestants on American Idol compete if they have arrest records that includes drug use.
It is hard for me to say this because I come from the state where the recent discoveries of past drug use by Bo Bice was revealed. Coming from the state of Alabama I want him to win, but I don't want a person who has past history with drugs to represent my state or represent the name of American Idol. In both cases it should be embarrassment to the company they represent.
Corey Clark was kicked off the second season after Idol learned about his arrest for assault. Now tell me, is this the kind of role model that we want our children to have. We also have Jaered Andrews who was booted from the semifinals after Idol learned about his possible involvement in a murder.
He was later acquitted. But does that really matter. Even the thought of his possible involvement is enough, I believe, to be dismissed from the show. I believe Idol's reaction was good. And we also have Frenchie Davis who was dropped from the show after photos appeared of her posing topless on a porn website.
The difference between Bice and the past contestants is that Bice was upfront about his past. In my opinion, that shouldn't matter. An arrest record is a arrest record, regardless of when Idol learned about it.
Maybe I am being too nick-picky. If I am, I don't want to come across as such. I just believe that our children should have good role models to look up to. That is pretty rare to find in today's society.
After the reveal of Bices' past drug use, it tarnished my image of this contestant. At this point, I would like Bice to win but then again I don't. In seems, though, that Bice has cleaned up his act and leads a different life than before.
Should it matter that he had a past? I would think it would if you have children that watch this television show. This is just my humble opinion.
Published by Kathy Brewis
My name is Kathy Brewis and I work for the Birmingham Public Library in Birmingham, Alabama. View profile
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5 Comments
Post a CommentSeriously, having a record could be about doing something stupid when they are a kid. An idol is not about being a good person, it's about being the best at what they do and encouraging others to do the same. These people are great singers so does that mean they shouldn;t have a dream? Does it mean they should spend the rest of their lives working at McDonald's with such a great gift? No. It means they shoudl try to make up for their mistakes and strive hard to make it in this world. You're talking about people not getting second chances. But being an American is all about going after your dream and getting the chance at a better life. if their lives were perfect already they wouldn't have to get in a contest to get a music contract. Miss America is obviously set up so that the person has to be super clean and princess-like. But American Idol is based on pure talent, popularity and drive. I didn't read page 2 either cause I didn't feel it was good for me to hear someone bash
Or they could be a role model for children by showing that sometimes people make mistakes and can redeam themselves and that their past actions do not dictate who they are today and teach a bit of empathy and understanding.
woah. first.. it's NIT-picky.
Second, how can you say that a person who was aquitted of a crime by a jury of our peers is not qualified to compete as an american idol? I don't even know the story behind the contestant you spoke about, i'm just responding to what YOU wrote. Have you ever been falsely accused? Pretty shitty to have people around you who judge purely on heresay. Wouldn't you agree? But according to you, "even the thought of his possible involvement is enough to be dismissed."
But earlier in your "article" (wah-wah) you say well no one is perfect. You are right. Think of the number one top person you consider to be a true American Idol. Now ask yourself if you truly believe that they were so without trespass as you expect an idol from the show to be. Sad to say... probably not. So yes, you are being NIT-picky and also, please at the very LEAST, have some consistancy in your opinions before you post them for the whole world to see. thank you.
Give me a break! It's a "stupid" TV show! Not an audition for Pope! "Idol" is NOT something to look up to; it's an object worshipped in place of God! Who by the way is merciful in forgiving EVEN addicts on a TV show. Mercifully I didn't read page 2.
I don't think it matters so much. And who cares if women who have appeared nude were allowed in the Miss America Beauty Paegant, personally, it is a talent competition, but it is also who the people want, if that is someone who has a prior record, so be it. Perhaps they should change the name, because we should not be looking up to an entertainer to begin with, but I think we place too much of an emphasis on people's past, doing everything that we can to deny them a future. In this country, if you have a record, or you're involved in porn, you can't get a decent job if your life depended on it, so you have to find other alternative means to get by; some go back to the life they had, which is unfortunate, and other's are a bit more creative about it. But I don't think that it should matter so much.