2nd Update: Ryan Seacrest confirms Chris Golightly’s DQ via twitter: “been determined that Chris Golightly is ineligible to continue on IDOL, contestant Tim Urban has replaced Golightly as part of the Top 24”
At the end of tonight’s show, when the last contestant, Andrew Garcia was advanced to the Top 24, I did the math, and only 23 contestants had been revealed advancing to the Top 24. Who was the 24th contestant?
It was Tim Urban, who was finally introduced by Ryan Seacrest during the boy’s celebratory dance. But, if you looked closely at the group shot of the boys, there was Chris Golightly in the frame! (he’s the curly-haired boy on the right)
So what’s the deal? Season 7 contestant, Samantha Musa reveals on twitter (via Idol360)
Just got off the phone with Chris GoLightly. He was disqualified yesterday, after already being told he was in the top 24, over some bogus..Old contract. The contract expired, but they disqualified him for not telling them. He is talking to lawyers, but doubt thet can do anything
You’re allowed to have old contracts, they just need to know about them. I think he put that he had it, but the guy he was.. …in it with called idol and said he still had contractual rights over him. Finally found the contract, expired in June.
He is upset cause he says it was a misunderstanding, yet they let Michael Lynch stay in the top 24 even though he broke contract…..when his family spilled the news about idol to the papers. So really, its pretty messed up that they pick and choose which……”Breach” to ignore and which to use as grounds for disqualification!
So far, Idol producers have not commented on this developing story. But they’re going to have to soon… Did they think Idol fans wouldn’t figure this out? They should have addressed it on air.
UPDATE: Joes Place contacted Chris through his facebook. She talked to him on the phone for about an hour. According to Joe, Chris has hired a high-powered attorney to represent him. Right now, he’s sleeping in someone’s garage. via Joes Place.
Chris had an old contract with a Boy Band. That contract expired in June on 2009. Chris then auditioned in July for American Idol. After the contract had expired. When Chris made it to Hollywood, he had to sign the standard AI contract. It asks if he had any current contracts. Chris answered No.
Chris then makes it to the top 24 in January 2010. He get’s out of his lease at his apartment and has to sell his car to pay the lease fees.
About a week ago, the person that Chris had a Contract previously with called Chris and American Idol and told them that he still had a valid contract. ( I have the managers name, but won’t post it) Chris said that no, he was released from his contract, but couldn’t find his copy of the release
Yesterday there was a flurry of telephone calls between Chris and Patrick Linn, Steve Lowe, Joe Wills and Andy Stinson (All AI, 19, or Fox big wigs).
Patrick Lynn called Chris at 5 pm yesterday and told him that he was out for not proving that he no longer had a valid contract. Patrick Lynn told Chris that he was Patrick’s favorite contestant, but there was nothing he could do.
Right after hanging up the phone, the old manager FINALLY found the contract release. He emailed it to all above as well as to Chris. Now, no one will take his call. They even told him that since he made the top 46, he could not try out again next year (WTF, this is news to me)