'American Idol' Finalist Caleb Kennedy's Mom Anita Reacts to His Exit
"American Idol" finalist Caleb Kennedy had his hopes of emerging the winner from the singing competition dashed after an old social media post resurfaced.
Caleb Kennedy had his world crumbling down after finding out that his time on "American Idol" was over. Despite an impressive stint on the show, an old post was all it took to draw the curtain.
Kennedy was the subject of backlash from fans after an old social media post emerged showing the singer, who was 12 at the time, posing with someone wearing what appears to be a Ku Klux Klan hood.
Caleb Kennedy performed on "American Idol" on May 9, 2021 | Photo: Getty Images
Kennedy, who gave a thunderous performance on Sunday's episode, announced his exit from the competition via his Instagram and apologized for his actions and admitting it was a mistake despite his young age at the time.
He announced that he would be taking a break from social media to heal and restore himself, hoping that someday, he would regain the respect of all those hurt and disappointed by his actions.
Despite the backlash from thousands of viewers, Kennedy's mother, Anita Guy, sprang up to her son's defense, stating that she was hurt by how things ended for her son.
She explained that the clip was taken after her son had watched the movie "The Strangers: Prey at Night" and was imitating the characters in the movie alongside those in the short Snapchat clip.
They will be hoping their starman is able to go through this and emerge stronger and better.
She added that the video had nothing to do with the Ku Klux Klan, even though it appears so. She reemphasized that her son had no racist bone in his body.
So much had been expected of the Dorman sophomore since his grand debut to the competition, where he left the crowd at the edge of their seat with a melodious rendition of his original song "Nowhere."
Judges Katy Perry and iconic singer Lionel Richie greatly admired Kennedy not just for his vocal prowess but also for his exceptional songwriting skills.
Even though the 16-year-old left the ABC singing competition and lost a chunk of his fanbase, he can steadily rely on the support of his parents, who have been a rock in his musical aspiration.
His parents are divorced but continue to provide their son with the confidence he needs. Their support would undoubtedly come in handy for the 16-year-old as he attempts to get his head above the waters.
For his die-hard fans, his exit will come as a blow, but they will be hoping their starman is able to go through this and emerge stronger and better.