American Idol Chatter, Slammer-style
In lieu of the nation glued to their TV sets on Tuesday and Wednesday nights—mostly to watch Sanjaya Malakar get voted off—we thought we’d take a moment and pay tribute to our favorite American Idol criminals and/or crimes related to Idol contestants.
A good true crime story involves sex and murder. A good Idol scandal involves some sort of crime, sex and a great mugshot.
![American_Idol_5[1].jpg](http://www.crimerant.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/04/American_Idol_5[1].jpg "American_Idol_5[1].jpg")
How ‘bout two years ago, when Idol wannabe Corey Clark took his side show to ABC’s “Primetime Live” and accused Paula of providing him with off-camera tips and assistance with choosing songs, not to mention a shag here and there. The elegantly fluent Clark, using his best English, told ABC: “She was opening my eyes to like, ‘Look, you sing this stuff. This is how you’re going to get through.’ ” Clark, then 22, was one of the 12 finalists during the show’s second season.
One of our favorite lines from the interview was when Clark, explaining how the relationship began, quoted the 80s diva as saying to him, “I want to look out after you like I’m your mom.” But when Clark thought about it and looked at her strangely—after all, Paula creeped him out—she quickly changed her tune, adding, “Well, maybe more like your special friend.”
In the end, Clark’s allegations weren’t given a morsel of credibility after Idol producers reported that, “Disqualified ‘American Idol’ contestant Corey Clark was removed from the show for failing to disclose his criminal arrest history.” In 2002, Clark was arrested for battery on a police officer and his sister, and endangering a child after a family argument.
![American_Idol[1].jpg](http://www.crimerant.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/04/American_Idol[1].jpg "American_Idol[1].jpg")
Remember the full-figured tenor finalist Scott Savol from Idol 4? Scott had big dreams. People liked him and his Meatloaf persona. He was sailing through the competition when the Smoking Gun Website outed his criminal past, posting a police report and mugshot. Scott was arrested for felony domestic violence after “roughing up his infant son’s mother during a Valentine’s Day fracas,” the Smoking Gun reported. In 2001, Scott “shoved [his baby’s mother Michelle] Martin, pulled a phone from her hand, and then threw it at Martin, striking her in the chest.” He’d already “grabbed the woman’s hand and pulled an engagement ring off her finger and ‘stated he was also going to take their son,’” according to the police report of the incident. He “eventually took a plea to a reduced misdemeanor disorderly conduct rap and was fined $500, placed on a year’s probation, ordered to complete a domestic violence or anger management program, and sentenced to a suspended 20-day jail term.”
What we find fascinating about this is the official statement released by a member of Scott Savol’s family regarding his arrest and sudden claim to fame on Idol. Scott’s family spokesperson was none other than his aunt. Apparently, immediate family members of Idol contestants are not allowed to comment due to contractual obligations to Fox, so Scott’s Aunt Janet emerged. Janet said Scott made producers aware of the incident and kept “nothing hidden from them,” adding, “the phone hit the wall and not Michele’s chest as reported in the police report.” Additionally, Michele “did not want Scott prosecuted and wrote a letter to the courts on Scott’s behalf and the charges were then reduced to a misdemeanor. … Scott made a mistake, paid his dues, changed his life for the better and moved on.”
![American_Idol_3[1].jpg](http://www.crimerant.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/04/American_Idol_3[1].jpg "American_Idol_3[1].jpg")
The Brittenum Twins were known as sassy and quirky during last year’s Idol. Terrell Brittenum made it to Hollywood, as well as his brother, Derrell. Things seemed to be going smoothly for the twins. They fought with other contestants and provided some ratings for Idol.
And then it was learned that Terrell was in a Tennessee jail. The 28-year-old Idol star sat in the Shelby County jail as tape of him and his brother played on television to millions of people. Terrell and Derrell weer arrested on a Georgia warrant charging them with forgery, theft by deception, and financial identity fraud. The Brittenum twins were crooks, thieves, liars and cheaters.
With all the money Idol generates, one has to wonder why background checks are not done. Nevertheless, who performed on “Idol” with his brother, also advanced to the show’s Derrell was arrested in Memphis after being stopped by a cop for a routine traffic stop. The cop soon discovered that his car was reported stolen and Derrell was wanted in Georgia. Terrell, named in the same Georgia arrest warrant, was arrested three days later.
Another crime attached to Idol is the idea that Clay Aiken will not admit he’s gay and move on with his life. All this “my private life is mine” business is stupid. Clay should come out and let it be. He’d be a hero to young people, a role model.
Of course, his grandma-aged auidience might not understand. But in time, they’d love him again.
What we found interesting about Clay this past year—and you have to give Kelly Ripa her props for a great line—was when Kelly stood up to Clay and told him off.
What happened, if you recall, was that Clay sat in for Regis as host for a day. As Clay and Kelly—has a ring to it, we must admit—sat and interviewed a guest and Kelly was being her usual loquacious self, talking and talking, Clay wanted to say shut up already, but instead put his hands over her mouth.
Kelly said something like, “Oh, no, no, no … you don’t do that, even if it’s for a laugh.”
Clay smiled and mumbled something about, “Well, I was trying to talk.”
Kelly then came out with the line of the month: “No, no,” she said, talking about putting his hand over her mouth, “I don’t know where that hand’s been, honey.”
The next day, Kelly went off on Clay on “Live With Regis and Kelly,” saying “I don’t think he was respectful in any way.” She said Clay was “hostile toward her.”
Did we miss any Idol crimes? Do you think it is a crime to watch AI? Who do you want to win? Who’s mugshot are you waiting for?
April 24th, 2007 at 12:46 pm
I think its a crime to watch American Idol.
I am only cutting you guys some slack because you have young women in the house.
April 24th, 2007 at 1:15 pm
I absolutely love the Clay Akin comments! I’m sure the other CR fans will agree! What do you think Jennifer Skoe??
April 24th, 2007 at 1:42 pm
I didn’t start watching Idol until the third season.
Personally, I think it was a crime when Constantine got voted off before Scott Savol.
April 24th, 2007 at 3:06 pm
I watch American Idol. Okay, there, I said it. I also used to watch 90210. Oh no, you all hate me now!
I couldn’t tell you one name, but I love that show! I’ve watched it since season one, when what’s-her-name won.
How about the kid from Alabama with buck teeth a few years back, or maybe last year, that had a twin brother. Wasn’t there some trouble with the law there, like his brother caused an accident and he showed his license in his brother’s place?
April 24th, 2007 at 8:00 pm
First of all, it wasn’t the NEXT day when Kelly went off on Clay..it was Monday, several days after she read all the thousands of blogs saying what a jerk SHE was. 99 percent of the comments were on Clay’s side. I think she was trying to defend herself and she came off as more of a jerk! Clay ‘hostile’ to her?? Just what was SHE drinking that weekend?? Kelly immediately took on the attitude that she was ‘the star’ of the show and she was NOT going to let Clay upstage her; well it backfired. Clay was his usual charming, witty and engaging self. And would of been one of the best co-hosts they had until Kelly’s ego got in the way. And another thing..why does it matter to you if Clay is gay or not?? Would your life be more complete??? Besides, he has answered that question, straightforward (no pun intended), at least THREE times in interviews back to 2003.
April 24th, 2007 at 8:36 pm
I watch a/i but I dont think its as good this year as in the past.
i also like clay & I cant stand Kelly Rippa
April 24th, 2007 at 8:48 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1sr75n31WA
Please watch the attached video.
Clay is straight. He has said repeatedly that he is straight.
The LAST place Clay’s name should appear is in a blog about AI contestants who have had brushes with the law.
Before you write another blog in which you mention Clay, do a little work and get your facts straight. He is a HUMANITARIAN, not some thug.
April 24th, 2007 at 9:29 pm
Well Clay obviously has a loyal following.
I agree that this season isn’t as good as others. My favorite guy (the guy with curly hair) was voted off long ago.
April 24th, 2007 at 11:01 pm
Clay will come out when he is ready.
April 24th, 2007 at 11:57 pm
After 4 years of relentless abuse anyone who was gay would have come out already, just to make it stop. He won’t come out because he isn’t gay. I can see it 50 years from now he will be enjoying his grandchildren and the gays will still be demanding that he come out. The crime is what is being done to smear a nice guy in blogs like this. He doesn’t belong with this group of criminals at all, but the ignorance and abuse continues.
April 25th, 2007 at 12:58 am
I gave up watching AI for Lent a few years ago. It was VERY difficult at first.
Then, this year, I tried to watch one of the early shows, but just couldn’t take it after awhile.
The first two seasons were more genuine, and less polished.
I can’t blame Kelly for being upset with Clay putting his hand on her mouth. That was intrusive.
(I just read that Karl Rove went off on Sheryl Crow for touching his arm)
Thanks for the entry!
This has been a rough week and we needed the break.
April 25th, 2007 at 3:48 am
OH my god!! I live in Australia and have never watched American Idol but after seeing Clay on numerous shows…..HE IS SOOOOO GAY!!
April 25th, 2007 at 7:37 am
Jeanie, frankly I don’t watch American Idol. I have enough drama in my life.
April 25th, 2007 at 9:04 am
Putting your hand over someone’s mouth is not “charming, witty and engaging”. It’s rude. Kelly Ripa was right to find Clay’s action objectionable.
April 25th, 2007 at 9:23 am
I agree Rae, they made it seem like she was gay bashing (i do remember this) when if a stranger put his hand on my mouth I would get pissed.
Hell I would get pissed if my boyfriend did it when I was trying to talk.
April 25th, 2007 at 9:59 am
These Clay lovers need to LIGHTEN UP! Oh, and Gregg and Matt do NOT care one way or another if Clay is gay or not, it was meant in humor, ever heard that word? Where are these people coming from lately?
Lalalalalalalalalalala – my fingers are in my ears and I’m not listening!
April 25th, 2007 at 10:47 am
Melissa, I can’t imagine anyone daring to do that to you!
Fiz.
April 25th, 2007 at 11:23 am
Oh last night I am sure he was tempted. We got on the subject of gun control. I happen to be very passionate on my stance on it
.
He finally just said we AREN’T talking about this anymore lol. How bout them Yankees…
April 25th, 2007 at 11:30 am
Marin, thanks for posting the YouTube. It’s funny when you try and get people that are so ignorant to watch that video, afterwards they have no comments….the video speaks for itself. As for Clay and Kelly? How many of you have seen the pictures of Kelly putting her hand over Regis’ mouth on several ocassions. But of course you all think that’s ok….right? Sorry no difference and she was doing it trying to be what she thinks as her cute, witty self. Sorry she’s always annoyed me anyway, but I really have no respect for her now. Her humor is so fake to me on the show, but a lot of people seem to like it so touche to them.
April 25th, 2007 at 11:41 am
Marin, sorry nobody is interested in watching an almost 10 minute video about CLAY FRIGGEN AIKEN. But frankly, nobody really cares.
April 25th, 2007 at 12:18 pm
Oh, jeez. I’m with you, Melissa. Who really cares if Clay Aiken is gay or straight?
Kelly putting her hand over Regis’ mouth? Just as rude. But, this blog wasn’t about what Kelly did to Regis-it was about what Clay did to Kelly. Or did you skip reading that part, My2Cents?
Lighten up, already.
April 25th, 2007 at 12:49 pm
quote:
Who really cares if Clay Aiken is gay or straight?
Oh really! Then why doesn’t everyone stop talking about it? And of course no one wants to watch the video…..it disproves what they want to hear (something that’s not true). And you really only need to watch a couple of minutes to see and hear what you don’t want to see or hear.
And yes I saw what this blog is about….mainly several ex-Idols that have gotten in trouble. And if you can talk about how rude you think Clay was then it’s my right to bring up how rude Kelly is.
April 25th, 2007 at 1:10 pm
Yeah, YouTube is proof.
Chill out. You might make people think you are a big geek.
April 25th, 2007 at 1:32 pm
I don’t think he was rude, I know he was. You don’t put your possibly dirty hand in contact with someone else’s mouth. It is rude to do it if you are Clay Aiken, or Kelly Ripa, or Joe Shebeloe from Detroit.
I don’t need to see the video because I don’t care. He could be an ostrich fetishist for all I know. Him insisting that he isn’t gay doesn’t make him straight, any more than insisting he isn’t straight would make him gay. It just means he can talk.
April 25th, 2007 at 2:28 pm
The main reason I watch AI is for Randy Jackson and Simon. I mean…. they are just too much fun.
“I don’t know Dawg…. that was all over the place for me”
“Dreadful… absolutely dreadful… you should be singing on a cruise ship”
I saw some special last year, it was with Simon and his “Mum”….. he is NOTHING like what you see on AI.
Now, don’t all pounce on me at once. LOL
April 25th, 2007 at 2:29 pm
Can’t believe how riled up people get about someone’s blog. Geez, if you don’t like what you are seeing/reading then click that little thing you call a mouse and go somewhere else. The only people who truly know what preferences Clay has are those who have actually been with him behind what I hope are closed doors. Anyone else is just giving their OPINION. You remember an opinion is what everyone has a right to have and it can be different from your own?
April 25th, 2007 at 5:46 pm
I must be missing something… who the heck gives a rat’s ass if Clay is gay.
April 26th, 2007 at 4:54 am
I could care less if Clay is gay. But I did care when he showed up on the show last year (wasn’t it last year?) with that stupid new hairdo. Lol
April 29th, 2007 at 12:55 pm
Add another one to the list.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070429/ap_en_mu/people_sierra;_ylt=AmO7aPTiHWl2XhKdQI3F.UXMWM0F
February 20th, 2008 at 4:30 pm
The gentlemen commenting on this wonderful site are SO right to expose the skanky filth that American Idol has called contestants over the years. Corey Clark is an inbred, UGLY, no class POS with very marginal talent. You know for certain he’s lying….whenever his lips are moving. His claims bout Paula are nothing but an extended tantrum from a rejected loser who knows after being booted that he would never receive a serious offer from any record company. The ghetto label that signed him paid him in food stamps and spring water. He ended up selling way less than William Hung. Hung was a reject, but was funny,personable and likeable. I am so happy to see that you commented on the GORILLAesque Brittenum sh&ts. These ZOO escapees came to IDOL knowing full well what scam they had earlier pulled at an auto dealership. Who commits financial fraud, identity theft, theft by deception, etc. and then goes on a show viewed by almost 40 million peeple!!? They acted like mental patients for much of their short stay on IDOL and managed to piss off almost every other contestant by hogging the camera(with IDOLS permission!) and constantly blabbing about how great they are and how terrible the other contestants are. Arrogant assed, fat assed retard Terrell proclaimed “I don’t do groups”. Fu&K you fat ass, you’ll work with whomever IDOL assigns you funky ass or go home. These sick minded deviant scum thought they were the only contestants there and that the others were just peons. Bloated, gross, disfunctional, codependent filth retards have no business critisizing ANYONE when they BOTH had mutiple felony arrests even BEFORE the stolen car thing was uncovered. From writing bad checks to indecent exposure(EWWWWWW) and more, this dickhead duo should NOT have been allowed to audition for IDOL season 7 at all. Outrageous! Thankfully, Ken Warwick and Nigel Lythgoe thought better of it and decided to show some class and tell dumb and dumbass to just go back to the hut. The Brit twins lied and initially told the press that they had been invited to be on the show but declined, then later admitted that that was’nt true. WOW! What a surprise! More lies from confirmed criminals. Derrell is a compliant zombie who obeys and Terrell is his fat, funky, overconfident, drama QUEEN leader. The gay community would reject Terrell even faster than IDOL did. Stupid,crooked, dumb, deluded and gay….that’s no way to go through life son. The south has produced several great idol winners…Reuben S. Carrie Underwood, Fantasia, Clay Aiken, etc. These inbred shits don’t quite measure up to those fine stars. The most Derrell can hope for is to take his funky, thick lipped ugly ass back to the south and have ugly children. While working as a janitor. As for Terrell, I’m sure singing in gay clubs pays OK so maybe this fat bitch won’t have to steal innocent folks’ identity anymore. I see both of these fu%ks as growing old and dying alone with no money and no friends. Fitting. Theives, crooks, liars and scum derserve nothing less. Just because your home life was awful. doesn’t give you the right to go out in the world and be such ignorant assholes. Idol did’nt want you, the public doesnt want you, YOUR OWN FATHER WALKED AWAY FROM BOTH OF YOU AT 14 and didn’t look back! HOORAY for him! Probably the smartest thing that guy ever did in his whole life. He saw what sh$ts they both were and got the Fu$k out of dodge. Good man. I honestly hope he and his fiancee are married now and very very happy. Fu$k the twins. Your album will sell 1 million copies….less 999,999 and that will be your total sales! You will NEVER be allowed to compete on IDOL again as punishment for your sick dishonesty. Take your lousy album and stick it up your fat funky ass. No one will ever care for your music or for you. Think you are frustrated now….wait til your 39, not 29 and you still have not made it. Perhaps between now and then one of you will change his skid-marked undies….probably women’s!! Bottom line….Con men with marginal talent, bad personalities, daddy issues, fuc$ked up families and bloated bellies should at least have good character else you do nothing but make enemies….like me. Enjoy obscurity boys,you earned it. P.S. Reuben, Clay Carrie, Fantasia, Blake Lewis, KELLY Clarkson and more have made MILLIONS of dollars and are signed to multiyear recording contracts as well as getting TV offers. How does it feel to sit black and watch “Lesser” talent than yourselves be waited on hand and foot by assistants, bodyguards, and the like while you two freaks can’t manage to stay out of jail for even 6months straight. Kelly, Carrie,Reuben and Clay have people rub and kiss their feet daily. You two LICK other peoples feet just to make ends meet,and not always Women’s FEET! How that feel. Do the wrong thing BITCH and you don’t git rewarded. Isn’t that how they spell get in the smelly south. Illlll. Well, gotta go! Sayanara apes!