American Idol Contestant Removed From Top 24
Credit: Patrick Ecclestein/FOX
Hold up, American Idol fans: there's been a last-minute switch to the top 24 list of semifinalists revealed in full on Wednesday night's episode.
In a statement to UsMagazine.com, a rep for Fox says, "It has been determined that Chris Golightly is ineligible to continue in the competition. AMERICAN IDOL contestant Tim Urban has replaced Golightly as part of the Top 24."
Though Golightly was seen making it through to the Top 24, he was noticeably absent at the end of the episode when the contestants were named individually -- and replaced by Urban, whose entry into the Top 24 was not aired. His name and face were shown at the end of the episode.
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The network has no comment on why Golightly is "ineligible." But when a Twitter follower asked Ryan Seacrest about the switch, he explained vaguely, "must have broken a rule or maybe had previous deal."
A source close the show tells Us that Golightly had a prior recording contract, which he "did not disclose" despite being given multiple opportunities to do so.
"This is not about whether or not the contract in question was either active or inactive or valid," the source continues. "It's crucial you tell the truth in the audition process... That is why he's being disqualified."
In an interview with fansite JoesPlaceBlog, Golightly explained that he a contract with a boy band that expired in 2009.
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Following Wednesday's reveal of the remaining top 24, the tenth season's semifinalists are as follows:
Didi Benami, 23, of Knoxville, TN
Crystal Bowersox, 24, of Elliston, OH
Lacey Brown, 24, of Amarillo, TX
Michelle Delamor, 22, of Miami, FL
Katelyn Epperly, 19, of West Des Moines, IA
Siobhan Magnus, 20, of Cape Cod, MA
Paige Miles, 24, of Houston, TX
Ashley Rodriguez, 22, of Chelsea, Ma
Lilly Scott, 20, of Denver, CO
Katie Stevens, 17, of Middlebury, CT
Haeley Vaughn, 16, of Fort Collins, CO
Janell Wheeler, 24, of Tampa, FL
Lee Dewyze, 23, of Mount Prospect, IL
Andrew Garcia, 24, of Moreno Valley, CA
Tyler Grady, 20, of Nazareth, PA
Todrick Hall, 24, of Arlington, TX
Casey James, 27, of Fort Worth, TX
Aaron Kelly, 16, of Sonestown, PA
Alex Lambert, 19, of North Richland Hills, TX
Michael Lynche, 26, of Astoria, NY
Joe Muñoz, 20, of Huntington Park, CA
John Park, 21, of Evanston, IL
Jermaine Sellers, 27, of Joliet, IL
Tim Urban, 20, of Duncanville, TX
The competition gets underway next Tuesday, when the top 12 women sing Hot 100 songs; the men battle it out Wednesday.
Tell Us What You Think
26haeley is a horrible singer i do not like her voice it is not very well done
I think they should have kept Tory Kelly because she is a good singer and i like how she sang Because your hot and your cold.she is way better than haeley vaughn.
Wait, can someone explain to me why they cut him? He was my favorite! Curly :( I don't understand..
I hate that they do 12 guys and 12 girls...it should just be the top 24 and it is what it is. why so many restrictions.
I was truly baffled by some of their choice. They didnt' let Angela through but they picked the girl who butchered the Taylor Swift song? Really? And what about the kid who forget his lyrics twice? That used to be an immediate dealbreaker. Idol's going downhill.
I Hope Michael Lynche wins he is my Favorite.....he was since day 1 or i want didi.....
This story was out weeks ago! One of the Top 24 was removed because his/her father told a local paper that their child had made it to the Top 24. This broke the rules as everything is to be kept a secret until the episode airs. USWEEKLY is stuck too far up Tiger's butt to get stories promptly
Sad!!! I liked him. :( But my very favorite is Casey James, then Andrew Garcia, then Crystal and Katelyn. I didn't think I would be excited about this season, but there is a LOT of really great talent this time around!
I am sooooo mad that Shelby did not make it she was better tehn most of the people they accepted after she was told she did not make it... I HOPE she goes farther then who they pick! She is a true idol some one who over comes a obstacle and still pushes to succeed ! U go girl!
I was so shock that this girl sung her heart out tried 3 times and she still did not make it. I am talking about Ms. Martin she can sing and you can feel it when she sing. She was one of the best singer you must bring her back. She been here 3 time's that should tell you something she want this bad PLEASE give her another chance.
What does Tiger Woods have anything to do with American Idol? LOL!
I think they should leave Tiger Woods alone. No, I do not think what he did to his wife and family is right at all. I think it should be left up to his wife if she wants to stay with him or not. I have been trough the same kind of thing, yes it hurts like hell and it takes a lot to over come something like that as the wife, but you can, I have done it. I am still with the same guy and it has been about 6yrs give or take some. I think they just need time to work things out together, just them two and not everyone els. I think Tiger Woods should not give up his dream of golfing because of it. He for sure needed to take time off to work thing's out, get his head together do a lot of thinking what he wants out of life. Let me tell you it is never greener on the other side. I hope Tiger and his wife make it together for the both of them and there children. I just think they should make there life the way they want it to go and not let the hole world fill there head with a bunch of crap. I do think people can change if they choose to. I just think his wife should look at the hole picture. I mean what he did to her was really wrong and to his children and co worker's and a lot of other people, but as god would look at it anything can be forgivable. I just know they are in a very hurtful part of there life's and my heart goes out to them. I hope they both can just make it out of this with truthfulness and forgiveness and mean it. God bless your family from our family.
I was so confused as to why Angela Martin was not chosen and now I know the reason. Poor girl can't catch a break. I thought the decision not to include her was so unfair but the show is a business and she is not good for business. Hopefully someone will pick her up and give her a shot.
Andrew and Katie are my top picks. I don't think this kid would have made the top 12 anyway.
Golightly reportedly spoke to the "Idol" fan site JoesPlaceBlog.com on Wednesday night after the show aired and said that he had an old contract with a boy band that expired in June 2009. He said he auditioned for "Idol" in July, after the contract had expired, and when he made it to Hollywood he had to sign an "AI" contract that asked if he had any current contracts, to which he answered no. Chris said he was not under that deal anymore, but couldn't find his release. After a round of phone calls between the singer and "Idol" execs on Wednesday, Golightly was informed just hours before the Hollywood finale aired that he would be disqualified because he couldn't definitively prove that he was not bound to the previous contract. Sadly, according to Joe's Place, the old manager later found the contract release and e-mailed it to Golightly, but it was too late, and because he made the top 46 this year, he reportedly cannot try out for the show again next year.
The full story is available with a search at television dot aol dot com
its confusing because they are not telling why he is not in the top 24 any more. He was all right i didnt he would've made it all the way. but it would n't be idol if there was not some kind of drama.....
I thought that it was 'Big Mike' going home! Now I'm confused
I was hoping it was one of the girls, and that Angela Martin would be brought back. I think she's fantastic.
Ummmmmm---he's not in the picture. He has very tight curly reddish blonde hair.