'American Idol' flap: Barba vs. Frenchie
jewahe
LOS ANGELES -
Frenchie Davis, dumped by "American Idol" in 2003 for lingerie shots
posted on a Web site, moved on to Broadway success and thought she had
buried a humiliating chapter of her young life.
That changed in the last few days after contestant Antonella Barba was
allowed to stay on the top-rated Fox series despite the emergence of
racy online photos that purport to be of Barba, but with no
verification.
The first big controversy of the show's sixth season swelled Tuesday
when fans and a civil-rights activist rallied to Davis' side, saying
she was the victim of unfair and potentially biased treatment. Davis
is black; Barba is white.
"We object to having one rule for black contestants and a different
rule for white contestants who exhibit the same behavior," said Najee
Ali, community activist and founder of Project Islamic H.O.P.E.
Davis said she is bewildered over what's happened with Barba, 20, of
Point Pleasant, N.J.
"I don't necessarily think that (it's racism), but I can certainly
look at this and understand why people would draw that conclusion,"
Davis said Tuesday from New York, hours before going on stage in the
musical "Rent."
"I'm not bashing `Idol' or Antonella. She's a beautiful girl and she's
young. I think it's great that she didn't have to go through what I
went through," said Davis, 27, who suggested that the show's producers
might have learned from how they treated her.
Davis would welcome a public apology from them as "a great start." But
she said she is owed more for "the manner in which I was humiliated
and the manner in which Antonella was defended and protected by the
same people who humiliated me."
"Now they need to come to the table and see what we can do to make up"
for her treatment, Davis said. She declined to say if she would seek a
financial settlement or a record contract or other deal.
Belinda Foster, Davis' manager, took part in a small protest Tuesday
with Ali outside the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles where "American
Idol" tapes. She said there are stark differences in the treatment of
the two contestants.
Foster noted the sympathetic comments of "American Idol" producer
Nigel Lythgoe, who was quoted on Entertainment Weekly's Web site
recently saying he was aware of the photos associated with Barba, but
adding: "It's sad, isn't it, that your best friends are the ones that
come forward with information that will go to Smoking Gun or put your
photographs on the Web?"
Fox and the producers have declined further comment on Barba, who was
to perform again Wednesday as the contestants are narrowed down this
week to the 12 finalists. All the singers, including Barba, have been
unavailable for interviews.
A source close to the show, who asked not to be identified because of
the lack of authorization to comment publicly, said Fox and the
producers believe seminude photos of Barba were posted without her
consent and that racier shots, showing a sex act, were of a woman
other than Barba.
Whether Barba posted any photos or allowed them to be posted is
immaterial, Ali said.
"`American Idol' has first and foremost proclaimed it is a family
show. ... No matter who made the photos public, it still speaks to her
moral character and integrity, and certainly her silence speaks for
itself," he said.
A fan group lead by Chris Tian, a singer-songwriter in Portsmouth,
N.H., is calling on Fox to give Davis another shot at competing on
"Idol."
Although she's wonderful in "Rent," Tian said, "a lot of Broadway
artists don't get record deals. This could open up the path for her
big record deal and big break."
The series has rarely managed a quiet year, with past issues ranging
from voter complaints over overloaded phone systems to a contestant's
allegation of an affair with judge Paula Abdul, which she denied.
The big-voiced Davis, on the verge of being voted a finalist by
viewers in the year in which Ruben Studdard won, said she was honest
with producers about posing for lingerie photos at age 19, five years
before going on "American Idol."
In a statement Tuesday, Fox said, "We have never discussed the
specifics of why Ms. Davis was eliminated, nor will we now."
The network said it had "no desire to revisit history and sully the
reputation of Ms. Davis. She was removed from the show over four years
ago and has gone on to a successful performing career."
That achievement has been a salve, of sorts, for Davis.
"I don't feel anything about the show. I haven't watched it. When
`American Idol' comes on at 8 o'clock at night, I'm on stage," Davis
said.
Dirk
Both she and Rosie O'Donnell (shown in a clip talking about the
"racism" or double standard, seem incapable of distinguishing between
showing tnaked boobs for commerce, and showing less than full boobs
for something else, and having other fake indecent photos, or posted
photos that were meant strictly for private use.
Anyway, Frenchie is clearly hopping on the Antonella scandal, to milk
as much attention and publicity for herself as she can.
I haven't seen Frenchie sing that much, but the time I saw her sing a
whole song on a talk show, it was out of tune. Her breasts have
already brought her attention and sympathy she probably wouldn't have
received had she remained on Idol and been bounced early.
Xarias
women...
"Dirk" <xg...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1173280361....@30g2000cwc.googlegroups.com...
E.M. Hammarskjold
"Xarias" <Xar...@achocolatepieamilewide.net> wrote in message
news:1pudnQywMps...@giganews.com...
>I think the both of them are biased against physically fit, attractive
>women...
...who, in lieu of actual talent use their conventional beauty to gain
attention and/or professionally sell themselves?
Ezelle F
Barba's photo's are R-Rated.
In any event with the all the open Gay/Lesbian Sex nature of the
Broadway show "RENT" it appears Frenchie's past indiscretions have more
helped her career than harmed it.
http://media.collegepublisher.com/media/paper328/stills/d7q5j28d.jpg
ri...@home.com
@p10g2000cwp.googlegroups.com:
> By LYNN ELBER, AP Television Writer Tue Mar 6, 11:07 PM ET
>
> LOS ANGELES -
> Frenchie Davis, dumped by "American Idol" in 2003 for lingerie shots
> posted on a Web site, moved on to Broadway success and thought she had
> buried a humiliating chapter of her young life.
>
> "Now they need to come to the table and see what we can do to make up"
> for her treatment, Davis said. She declined to say if she would seek a
> financial settlement or a record contract or other deal.
I predict Gloria Alred will be representing her any day now.
I think AI should treat her the same way they did Antonella. So Frenchie
should get into a fountain wearing some big ass tshirt and some big ass
undies have someone take her pics.
Than she can lay down and her someone cover her privates with rose
petals...wait are there enough rose petals in the world to cover her?
Better yet use paper plates to cover her privates.
Then have her pose on a basketball...who are we fooling the ball will
pop. Make it a bowling ball.
> Belinda Foster, Davis' manager, took part in a small protest Tuesday
> with Ali outside the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles where "American
> Idol" tapes. She said there are stark differences in the treatment of
> the two contestants.
Key word was "small protest". What were there 3 people protesting? If AI
weren't as popular as it is this wouldn't be getting any press.
> A fan group lead by Chris Tian, a singer-songwriter in Portsmouth,
> N.H., is calling on Fox to give Davis another shot at competing on
> "Idol."
I'm all for that as she'd go b/f Antonella or Sanjaya. Or have her
audition next year and show Simon making fat jokes.
Karrde
> Both she and Rosie O'Donnell (shown in a clip talking about the
> "racism" or double standard,
Rosie "Ching Chong" O'Donnell has no moral authority when discussing racism.
--
--K
Undisputed 2004 Bragging Rights Champion
Karrde
"E.M. Hammarskjold" <For...@Dag.org> wrote in message
news:45eee9d1$0$24735$4c36...@roadrunner.com...
>
> "Xarias" <Xar...@achocolatepieamilewide.net> wrote in message
> news:1pudnQywMps...@giganews.com...
>>I think the both of them are biased against physically fit, attractive
>>women...
>
> ...who, in lieu of actual talent use their conventional beauty to gain
> attention and/or professionally sell themselves?
Rosie has neither talent nor conventional beauty, so why do we have to still
hear the tripe that issues from her filthy pie hole?
Vandar
> On Wed, 7 Mar 2007 20:27:34 -0700, "Karrde"
> <karrde_s...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
>
>>Rosie has neither talent nor conventional beauty, so why do we have to still
>>hear the tripe that issues from her filthy pie hole?
>
>
> Probably the same reason we have to hear the tripe that issues from
> your filthy pie hole. It is called Freedom Of Speech.
Really? I've never heard Karrde speak. We don't even know if he can.
Maybe he's mute. Maybe he's a mute with Tourette's.
We just don't know.
777
<karrde_s...@hotmail.com> wrote:
Because she is a funny fat ugly/unattractive (politically correct)
white pig, who likes licking the forbidden fruit. There I said it....
777
>I like Frenchie but I believe her photos were X-Rated while Antonella
>Barba's photo's are R-Rated.
Have you seen the antonella pics of her performing oral sex???
Bill Gates
I have and she is hot!