American Idol Topless Photo Controversy
After revealing pictures of season six American Idol contender Antonella Barba surfaced on the internet, many drew parallels to a similar situation involving season two contender Davis. In an interview conducted for The New York Post on Monday, March 5, 2007, Davis said,
- "I couldn't help but notice the difference between the manner in which she was dealt with and how I was dealt with.... I think it's fantastic if Idol has evolved, and I think it's fantastic she won't have to go through what I went through four years ago … but if the rules have changed, I believe there should be something to make up for the fact that I was humiliated needlessly."
Project Islamic H.O.P.E. activist Najee Ali has accused the show of racism: "It's obvious that it's a racial bias... when you have a situation where a black contestant is punished and a similar situation happens to a white contestant and there is no punishment and they're allowed to continue on the show". According to EuroWeb, Ali staged a protest in front of The Kodak Theater in Los Angeles, CA on Tuesday, March 6, 2007. Protesters are seeking another chance for Davis at the competition. Former talk show co-host Rosie O'Donnell has commented on the Idol scandal; on The View, Tuesday, March 6, 2007, co-host Elisabeth Hasselbeck used the justification that Davis was paid for her pictures whereas Barba was not. Rosie's response: "I think it's racist. I do... I think it's because she's black".
Read more about this topic: Frenchie Davis
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