Are these arrests that got local 'Idol' contestant booted?
It appears that South Jersey "American Idol" finalist Jermaine Jones has been disqualified from the show. Multiple outlets reported Tuesday night that the 6-foot-8 singer had tweeted about his exit -- in a post since removed from Twitter -- and TMZ.com says Jones will be exiting the show Wednesday after lying about his criminal history. UPDATE: The Smoking Gun website, citing court records, is reporting today that Jones has five outstanding arrest warrants in New Jersey and "is wanted in four separate counties for failing to appear in court on a variety of criminal charges dating back to 2006." None of the incidents cited by the Smoking Gun -- the least of which appears to be violation of the open-container law, the most serious a 2006 narcotics bust -- would seem to corroborate TMZ's contention that "one of the incidents involved violence, which was particularly troublesome to producers," though there do appear to be two incidents in which he's said to have give false names to police. If the reports of his ouster are true, Jones, 25, would hardly be the first "Idol" contestant with a criminal past, but applicants fill out extensive disclosure forms and lying is particularly frowned on. Jones was reportedly confronted by producers on camera, which could make for some interesting footage in Wednesday's show.
Are these arrests that got local 'Idol' contestant booted?
Ellen Gray, Daily News TV Critic
It appears that South Jersey "American Idol" finalist Jermaine Jones has been disqualified from the show.
Multiple outlets reported Tuesday night that the 6-foot-8 singer had tweeted about his exit -- in a post since removed from Twitter -- and TMZ.com says Jones will be exiting the show Wednesday after lying about his criminal history.
UPDATE: The Smoking Gun website, citing court records, is reporting today that Jones has five outstanding arrest warrants in New Jersey and "is wanted in four separate counties for failing to appear in court on a variety of criminal charges dating back to 2006."
FURTHER UPDATE: Now TMZ is firing back with video that purports to show Jones headed back to Philly in first class, suggesting that if he's seen on tonight's show, it won't be live.
None of the incidents cited by the Smoking Gun -- the least of which appears to be violation of the open-container law, the most serious a 2006 narcotics bust -- would immediately seem to corroborate TMZ's contention that "one of the incidents involved violence, which was particularly troublesome to producers," though there do appear to be two incidents in which he's said to have give false names to police.
If the reports of his ouster are true, Jones, 25, would hardly be the first "Idol" contestant with a criminal past, but applicants fill out extensive disclosure forms and lying is particularly frowned on.
Jones was reportedly confronted by producers on camera, which could make for some interesting footage in Wednesday's show.
Nothing Racist about this.This is pure made for TV garbage. They KNEW from the start about his background and let him continue anyway. This is all a ratings scam for a show that has long outlived its usefullness(if it ever had one). They will let him say goodbye and hype it for ratings,in typical Fox fashion.— bkg126- Annette-John Hall is going to be furious with this decision!— kjuggs77
- Ditto to the who cares comments. BTW the show was founded by a man with drug possession arrests, has been and is hosted by known/admitted drug addicts, alcoholics, spousal abusers and the like. And all this in an industry noted for gangsterism, illegal payments, addicts, abusers and the like. What a crock. Maybe he didn't have enough crimes to be in the recording industry!— nws
Comment removed.- NAACP to the rescue!! I'm sure it was all a mistake!— dogman5
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- You should go save your peeps. LMAO— FedCop123
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- What'd I tell ya....crime does not pay! LOLS! he should've, oughta done it.— tulipwalk
- Good chance his "LOVING MOMMA" was in on most of his crimes.... IDIOT— chefmikedl
- achk...ught...hak, just threw up a hair ball. Get real.— FedCop123
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- is that local for I needs a welfare check? — FedCop123
- Stop thinking that all black people believe that they suffer from racism. What makes you think that ALL of us believe that any group is powerful enough to control our future? You have to come out of the cave with that nonsense. No real man would ever look at another group, or you in particular, and feel that you or yours amount to any measurable threat. Puh-leeze! What threat? What racism could hurt us? Who is that awesome in their evil? Nobody. It is a myth. He is just the boogeyman who should have gone out with disco shirts. I have never run into that man and if I ever do I feel very sorry for him.— WantToKnow
- Reverse racism. What an idiot.— WantToKnow
- Oh and I do not live in Chinatown. But I lurk there often with my non welfare grubbing children.— FedCop123
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- Where are you going with this, FedCop?— jester
- yeah boy!!— Old German
- What do you pay for a gallon of grape soda?— FedCop123
- What an idiot...THis is one strange cat. Jennaphar must be crushed. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA— phillyceltic
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- the show should be called American Idiot— Edsville
- Sure it does. Just like all the crime in Philly. Its ok to kill and rob and shoot up the place. Destroy whole neighborhoods but does anyone take the blame. NOPE. Not a one.— FedCop123
- When in doubt throw up the race card. It really does work!!!!!!!!— eagledude
- white guy makes a valid comment and now is a RACIST?— FedCop123
- I laugh at your justification for irony. I never stomped on anyone in my 27 years as a cop. Dude is a criminal...I guess the fact that he is black makes it ok? You people are seriously the cause of the problems that face american. PLEASE try to to have a least a meager comeback, if not shut the F up.— FedCop123
- @Eagleswinbowl02. I'd rather be a democrat without a birth certificate, than a republican with no brains.— leftistqueen
- who cares. i wish this show would go away.— Tyrone Biggums
Maybe its a dumb rule. Arrest does not equal guilty. America is amazing. Lindsey Lohan can BEG to go on Saturday Night (?) and presumably earn thousands. This young man did much less and loses his one chance to crack the ceiling.
Dag, even former Pres. Bill Clinton admitted to 'inhaling' while in college, and look what he earns just to open his mouth.— MissV- Jesus- Not only does he/she not see the irony, he/she doesn't even get the fact that that quiet was messing around. It's ok, "Fed Cops" are nothing more than glorified security guards. The real men are the beat cops out on the toughest Philly blocks who do their best to keep us safe. All the Feds do is trample on the rights of law-abiding Muslims and go after non-violent drug dealers. Way to go, you bunch of overpaid and underperforming nobodies.— jevans
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They confronted him on camera and are going to show that footage tonight? Nothing like disgracing someone in front of an entire nation, even if he did lie about the crimes. Just announce he was disqualified, give the reason and move on. He's 6-foot 8. Don't make him angry. You wouldn't like him when he's angry (to paraphrase the intro from an old '80s show).— wfs0868- FedCop123 - do you see the irony of your post? Just wondering. Also, I didn't even know this show was still on the air. Do people even watch it?— Jesus_the_Gardener
- quitethetenses makes NO SENSE! I haven't seen 1 commenter(especially the 1st guy) mention anything about race. ONLY YOU DID! Seems like most people were talking about the Idol show & how it jumped the shark years ago. Guess you're part of that so-called 99% of Philadelphians who is racist... but you picked the wrong story to jump on here. Bottom line most people think the show STINKS & yeah he's had criminal dealings, didn't fully disclose them/ hid them & got caught. Lets move on.— Kennedy
- This is American Idol desperate attempt at getting ratings. C'mon y'all, this guy was gone earlier in the season. They called him back only to do this. He is better off leaving the show. The cops could not have been looking for him. Hell I knew his whereabouts since January when I saw the auditions. This is laughable to the 25th power.— dliciousd
- Where is the racism? He did crimes, got caught and deserves to be ousted from Idol. Amazing what AA's will claim as a excuse for racism. SAD.— FedCop123
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- No honk here... just a taxpayer and a worker bee. Feeling guilty? — FedCop123
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- You are so typical. None of my comments were offensive to anyone but you. I am not here to fix anything. I just comment on what I fee and for the record I am Asian....100% chinese.....so go stick that sock in your mouth. Funny how you assume?
— FedCop123 - What does this have to do with race? The guy lied, got caught and is now paying the price. He could be blue - the story would read the same.— lulu
99.9% of the posters here are racists, but that about meets the % of people in Philly who are racists, black & white alike- This comment has been deleted. — Dew Schbag
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- He stunk anyway!!!— consierge
- What kind of morons watch this nonsense on tv?— Dunsmore
- Maybe Brobama can get him back with a Presidential pardon.— BobbyD
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- Would that I could be a fly on the wall at Fox 29 right about now. They hyped this guy to the moon and back. Face, meet egg.— PHJR2010
- Who cares? This show just will not die. I will be so glad to hear" the series finale". Please go away.— Corey301
- Fox29 News portrayed him as a Gentle Giant Church Loving Mama's Boy. This is just a set-up by the "Man" to keep the brother from winning. Call Al Sharpton!!
- This comment has been deleted. — Just_Recently_Banned
- How do we know quietthetenses is AA? Some white folks are capable of spotting racism too. — yeadon75
- You done stolt my name.... — FedCop123
