There were tears of joy and downright pain last night as judges revealed to the Top 24 and as always, some American Idol scandal is already stirring up. At the end of last night's show, Tim Urban, who was not shown in the episode, was revealed when the boys are dancing at the end, while curly-haired Chris Golightly, who has spent his life in the foster care system, was not mentioned as Top 24 in the episode but is in the group shot at the end when Ryan Seacrest announced "This Is Your Top 24″. Fox sent out a press release after the show stating that Chris Golightly has been deemed ineligible from the Top 24 and that Tim Urban is taking his place.
"It has been determined that Chris Golightly is ineligible to continue in the competition," read a statement from Fox. "American Idol contestant Tim Urban has replaced Golightly as part of the Top 24."
Although Fox didn't elaborate on why Golightly was disqualified, MTV News is reporting that it may have to do with an old contract Chris had with a boy band. Reportedly, after making it to the top 24 in January, Golightly got a call a week ago from the person who held his previous contract telling him that he was still under that agreement. Chris argued that he was no longer bound by that contract, but couldn't find his release. Golightly and American Idol execs talked extensively on the phone on Wednesday, but 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.
Then, according to Joe's Place, the old manager later found the contract release and emailed it to Golightly, but it was too late. Golightly tried calling back Idol execs to tell them about the contract release, but they won't return his phone call. To add to the pain for Golightly, because he made the top 46 this year, he reportedly cannot try out for the show again next year – which hasn't been the rule in prior years. Unfair, right? And – why is an old manager trying to cause trouble for Golightly, only to later email him the release?
American Idol continues on Tuesday, February 24 where the Top 12 girls will compete live from Hollywood. Who will prevail this season? Bodog has entertainment betting in the Bodog Sportsbook.
