Yeah, there’s scandal every year. We know this. Generally, when something negative comes to light about a contestant, particularly if it’s something from their past, I’m really not interested. However, if it looks like past indiscretions may jeopardize a contestant continuing in the competition, then I feel obliged to address it.
Reluctantly, here is my obligatory post on the Antonella Barba photo scandal. Sigh.
The first batch of photos posted on the internet were casual snaps of Antonella and her friends goofing around. No biggie really. Antonella seemed to have some vindictive ex-friends out there trying to spoil her Idol run.
The next set that appeared were posted on this hastily put up website. She’s actually posing for these pictures, maybe for a portfolio. The pictures are provocative, bordering on soft-core porn. But, not racier than what you might find in a laddie mag like Maxim or FHM. More peeps were teed off that she took the pics at the WWII War Memorial in DC–showing disrespect for veterans–than the content of the pictures. Still, the photos are probably not going to get her DQ’d from the competition.
The next set of pictures to leak are in a whole different league of inappropriate.
*DISCLAIMER* The photos I am about to link have the naughty bits pixelated, but they are still pornographic. If your sensibilities are tender, DO NOT CLICK THE LINK. *disclaimer finished*.
OK. This site received photos from an anonymous source. The girl in the pictures, who may or may not be Antonella (it looks like her, though), is giving somebody, uhhhm, let’s say….oral pleasure. These pictures? If they are real, are certainly enough to get Antonella DQ’d from the show.
The series of photographs have been dripping out to the internet over the past couple of days, each set racier than the last. I think Antonella may have a scorned ex-lover out there trying to ruin her Idol chances. There are rumors that there are more pictures to come. Nasty, nasty business.
The story has been picked up by the mainstream press and is the major topic on blogs (this one included) and message boards everywhere. TPTB will have to address this issue one way or another.
If the pornographic photos are real–and they could be–I can’t imagine Antonella NOT being asked to leave the show. First and foremost, Idol is promoted as a show the entire family can watch. To a certain extent these kids are expected to be role models. Porno pics floating around the internet do not fit into the game plan.
For sure, the producers will give her the option to withdraw from the competition–less embarrassing for everyone all around. Afterward, last week’s bootee with the highest votes will be invited back. Or, they’ll just carry on with 9 girls and only eliminate one on Thursday.
I don’t expect anything to happen until this week’s news cycle begins on Monday, however. So, stay tuned…
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I’ve been reading your blog since last year, and I can tell that you really seek to provide the most reliable info possible. I wanted to post a link (hope I can do that) that shows “proof” that those OS photos were fabricated. You cant see anything too explicit (they chop “that” off the photo, the focus is on her ear), but I will refer to MJ’s disclaimer. If youre a sensitive reader dont click on the link. MJ I hope this helps. Thanks for your great blogging.
http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2089453080100671735vhUiBQ
I say she has to go, to seem “fair” in light of Frenchie’s dismisal, and to preserve AI’s reputation as a “family” show.
hmm, well the ear does look different. However, the nose, moles and eyebrows look the same. It’s probably not her in the x-rated pics, but at this point how can she go out there and perform on the Idol stage knowing that the whole world is gawking. Her nerves were getting to her last week already, and this has to be worse.
The ear pictures are taken from different angles so it is impossible to say for sure.
I just can’t see her standing in front of the judges waiting to be criticized on her singing after the week she has probably had. Keeping her would simply prolong the humiliation.
Who knows at this point. I am suspicious that they took the time to point out the moles which look like Photoshop clone stamps. I suppose the truth will eventually surface but like you say, the damage has been done. One GOOD thing has come of this tho. She has inadvertently become a good role model for my two teenage daughters of what not to do! They were both a bit shocked and I notice my 15 yo took off a photo of herself in a swimsuit from her Myspace, even tho it was perfectly respectable and she has her profile set to private. Lesson learned. Don’t ever write anything or have a photo taken that you wouldn’t be ashamed to have printed in a newspaper, as my mother always said.
baby-on-board: I wanted to post a link (hope I can do that) that shows “proof” that those OS photos were fabricated. You cant see anything too explicit (they chop “that” off the photo, the focus is on her ear),
Thanks for posting the link. I haven’t checked out any of the original photos, but those photos on your link are very convincing.
Ears are very unique. Before fingerprints, ear measurements were one of the things that were used to help identify repeat offenders. Recently, some police agencies have also begun taking ear prints of suspects because they can be compared to prints found at the scene (people listening at doors/windows).
From the link, you can see that those two ears are not the same. They are not even close (if you don’t trust the “real Antonella picture”, you can see official photos of her on the AI site).
Somebody really has it in for that girl. I suppose it didn’t help that the editors set her up to be hated with the two chairs trick and featuring her mean-girl friend. I cannot believe somebody would think trying to destroy somebody’s dream like this is fun.
Bobbi: The ear pictures are taken from different angles so it is impossible to say for sure.
Now we are going to have ear-gate. I don’t think the angle makes a bit of difference because the ears are so different.
The person in the photos has a very flat style ear whereas Antonella has very ridgy (to use a non-scientific term) ear. Antonella’s ears have a very curvy upper-ear ridge and it extands to just behind the oral canal. The Non-Antella ear is not nearly so curvy and you can see that it ends higher up in the ear. The Non-Antella ear furrow is also very flat whereas Antonella’s forms a peak and then recedes into a valley before meeting up with the upper ear ridge. Non-Antonella’s ear is also more of an oval.
I don’t think that there is any angle from which the picture could be taken that both of these ears would look the same. If you somehow managed to get an angle to flatten the upper ear ridge, the ear furrow would block the view of the back of the ear.
To me that “proof” showed it definitely is the same ear. The lighting from the front flash in the explicit pic is causing the larger inner part of the ear to appear as part of the outer ridge, distorting it’s shape. The rest is pretty much the same shape if you look closely. Anyway, extreme differences in lighting and angle is causing a difference in shadows, which is tricking the eye into thinking the ear is a different shape. Look really close. I think it’s funny they used a picture where her ear is covered when during her whole performance on Wednesday, she had her hair pulled back and we saw every angle of her ears.
LMAO! Who needs CSI when we have MJs?
I think it is only fair that she be asked to leave the show. It is supposed to be a family show. And I really think that in light of the fact they asked Frenchie to leave the show (for something that was further back in her past than these pictures are of Toilet Barbi) then it is only fair to get this tramp off there.
I think it’s too late. There are always going to be those that insist it is her, and those who say it isn’t. The problem for AI is how large is that group that will always think it’s her. I think she is too big of a liability for the show at this point. If it’s not her in the BJ pics, some sicko sure went out of their way to trash the girl.
For me, I don’t really think the oral pictures are her
Only if she admit that it’s her, then she should be DQ’d
or else even though the other pictures aren’t going to have much positive impacts on her, she would be able to stay
In any way, I don’t really think she’ll stay too long either, based on her singing and other qualities.
I used to be a fan, but her performance last Wednesday wasn’t impressive at all…especially when compared to the great ones…
FWIW, I think it’s Antonella in all the photos. (The ears look the same to me.) If it’s not her, whether or not she leaves the show, she would release a statement to that effect. I sure as hell would.
The sad part of all this is that the other contestants haven’t got the normal amount of discussion that they deserve. So much has been focused on this story. It really hasn’t been fair to them.
I believe at least two sets of photos are Antonella. They must use the same rules they used for Frenchie. Leave the show.
1) Obviously Antonella took Billy Joel’s lyrics to heart when he said “Only the good die young!”, a song also about Catholic girls. Later on in the lyrics he says, “they never told you the price that you pay for things that you might have done…” Oh how ironic.
2) “Yeah, well, if they ask you to take your top off, get the money first.” - Drop Dead Gorgeous
3) At least there’s SOMETHING interesting about this season. For now. They knew they had to figure out a way to get views for this stretch of the competition before the big “shocker” or whatever mid-season. I bet Antonella stays on for 2 or 3 more episodes before getting the boot to rake in the ratings before their next scheme.
“Back and to the left, back and to the left…”
I’m not offended that Antonella likes to blow. I’m disturbed that she has no clue that the fountain she was romping in is a war memorial, honoring thousands of men who died so she could pursue freedom, happiness and the right to sing off key on TV.
i didn’t think it looked like her 100% anyway, and this eargate thing just makes me feel even stronger that it’s another girl with similar features.
if the explicit photos are not of her, and she wants to resign anyway, fine, but i wouldn’t say she should resign just because someone so aggressively malicious and hostile tried to ruin her moment in the sun. whether it is her or not, though, the instant the person pressed “send” out to the world, if it’s the same guy who was in the pix, he also sent out an advertisement that he’s the proud owner of an itsy bitsy teeny eenie weeney. now that’s instant karma.
Last time I checked, it’s not porn if you aren’t getting paid for it. How is this grounds for disqualification? Having sex or having some jerk release private pictures is grounds for DQ? Hardly.
As I said a couple days ago on another thread, she should be eliminated. Frenchie Davis was potentially the best talent AI ever had, yet she was eliminated for pictures of the same caliber as those of Antoiletta. The difference here is that A is not talented at all. She got on the show because she is pretty (to some ppl), and apparently gives good cranium. It would be extremely unfair for her to stay. Do Nigel and Kenny love this publicity? Positively NOT!!! American Idol is a show the entire family can watch together. It has brought families together like no other show in American history. AI doesn’t need the publicity. It isn’t like they are hurting for ratings! They have been the number 1 show on TV for nearly three years running! THIS sort of publicity is the worst possible thing to come along. It will be taken care of. Trust me on that.
This family-show argument is hilarious. This ain’t no family show by any stretch of the imagination. No family show would make fun of people like they do or show the beach pictures THEY showed of Antonella. She was already being protrayed as the sex kitten.
Furthermore, none of these pictures is on the show. There is obviously no endorsement here by the show of anything. One can make mistakes and still turn around and go for their dreams. I thought that’s what this country was about. Guess I was wrong.
jersey - it’s definitely her in some of the other pictures, without the pixellated content, and the pictures are clearly posed, clearly her, and clearly provocative and show her body parts to great effect. FAIR IS FAIR - they booted Frenchie for topless pictures. Get her out NOW. and frankly, I think dismissing her when she made it this far will further serve to underscore that you can’t have that kind of past trailing you around at ANY phase of the show.
I want to note, here - the reason why I say they simply must boot her is BECAUSE of the decision they made with Frenchie, no other reason. Rules are rules, and they have to be consistent in their application regardless of what phase of the show she has reached.
Further note: If you google ‘Antonella Barba’ under google images, one of the see-thru shirt/water pictures scores fourth on the results page. Damage control is impossible at this point.
The only reason Frenchie was disqualified was because the website on which her photos were posted was associated with child pornography. If it hadn’t been for that aspect, she would not have been disqualified. The only way I see Antonella getting disqualified is if she deliberately withheld information on on past or current illegal actions. If she has done nothing illegal or against the rules, there is no way AI will send her home - they love the publicity and buzz too much.
I don’t think it’s Antonella in those BJ pictures either. She seems like way too innocent a girl to do that.
OK, I just snarfed Diet Coke out my nose when I said that.
Seriously though, I think it is just a girl who looks like her in the BJ pics. Her teeth are different from Antonella’s teeth. The right, front incisor is tilted forward compared to the left incisor in the pix. Antonella has perfectly straight front teeth. Between that and the ear photos (look at the earlobes, people — the BJ girl has significantly longer earlobes), it’s obviously not her. It’s kind of like those internet pictures of PMOY Carmella DeCesare that people were claiming were nude photos of Eva Longoria. They look a LOT alike, but they aren’t the same person.
in light of this scandal and the possibility that the young lady in the compromising pose could be Antonella, reread her profile on the AI site, particularly her response to the question “what would people be most surprised to learn about you?”
I seen other pictures of the “pleasuring” on the internet — the ones without her hair in her face and it is DEFINITELY her - I don’t know how anyone could have faked those pictures. There were two other pictures.
I am starting to wonder whether Antonella was put through to the top 24 because TPTB knew these pictures existed. AI gets their very own talentless sex-pot star — a la Paris Hilton — not to mention a scandal sure to boost the ratings.
This is disgusting, in my opinion. I am not a prude, but these “stars” (Paris, Brittany, Anna Nicole, and now Antonella) set a terrible example for young girls. Celebrity is now all about SEX.
All of the pictures look like her. Everyone deserves to have a private life, but many of these photos were obviously for public consumption. They show very poor judgment on her part.
Diana, American Idol is ALREADY the highest rated show on television. If you think that American Idol would intentionally take a risk like that on the off chance that they might get an extra little bump in the ratings, you’re out of your mind!
Diana, in past posts there are a few of us who believe that AI knew about the beach photos and toilet scene. They love publicity; however, I don’t believe they knew about the WW II Memorial shots. I hope Antonella simply resigns rather than get booted!
lrt wrote:
Actually, that’s not entirely correct. The website wasn’t a pedophile website, it was a site that referred to ‘young girls’ and had the fine print which stated that all models were over the age of 18, as was Frenchie at that time. It is completely unfair to Frenchie to keep Antoiletta on the show. Frenchie was and is a monumental talent, Antoiletta is not. She is a pretty face, and got on the show for her looks not because she has remarkable singing ability. There were other ppl in the top 40 who out shined her, but she was the pretty one.
AI does NOT like, nor need, this publicity. They are a ratings powerhouse and don’t need THIS kind of publicity. Whether someone considers them a family show or not THEY promote themselves as a family show, something the entire family can watch and enjoy together - something that actually brings a family together which somewhat disappeared in the previous decades.
If there is any fairness or consistency in their rules, then AB will be removed from the competition. Corey Clark was eliminated for not reporting an alleged assault against his sister but the charges were dismissed and his sister actually accompanied him to his original audition. Frenchie was eliminated for racy photos on an over-18 website that implied the girls were young teens (all porn websites say that!). There were contestants eliminated for being involved in fights, etc… Whether or not the BJ pics are of AB or not the fact everyone is talking about it is enough to disqualify her and get her off the show ASAP. If they don’t then AI will get a black eye and it will tarnish their ‘wholesome TV-G family programming’ image.
Get her off NOW!!!
I am appalled that the British producers are allowing her to stay. Since they are British, they apparently do not have the same emothons about the WW2 memorial dedicated to AMERICAN servicemen. They should remember that if those American boys had not gone over and put their effort into defeating Hitler, he just amy havewon the was and the British would now be speaki8ng German. They are definitely showing disrewspect to our men who fought in WW2. Shame on them.