Alexis Cohen, Former American Idol Contestant, Found Dead
2nd update: Alexis uploaded a video to funny or die on Friday. She posted it on her MySpace. Check it out HERE. It’s not only very vulgar, but a little disturbing.
Apparently, Alexis tried to audition for Idol Season 9, but was turned away at the door…
UPDATE: FOX is reporting that the Ocean County prosecutors office, of Seaside NJ where Alexis’ body was found, believe it was a hit and run. HERE.
Very sad. Former American Idol wannabe, Alexis Cohen, 25, was found dead early this morning. eta: she was found in seaside, nj, not allentown
Many of you remember Alexis, she was the eccentric, potty mouthed Janis Joplin wannabe who auditioned for the judges in both Season 7 and 8. Not considered a serious audition, she was dismissed both times without a golden ticket.
According to Allentown Call:
Cohen was found lying outside around 4 a.m. by two passersby who called 911, Deputy Chief Michael Mohel said. She was taken to Community Medical Center in Toms River, N.J., where she was pronounced dead around 6:35 a.m.
An autopsy is being conducted today, and police are investigating Cohen’s death. Mohel declined to say how police believe she died.
No cause of death, yet. In case you don’t remember her, here are both her auditions, after the jump…
Season 7:
Season 8:
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74 Responses to “Alexis Cohen, Former American Idol Contestant, Found Dead”
Thanks for that link. What an articulate, pretty girl she was. Man what an editing job AI did on her, huh?
RIP Alexis Cohen
This is one of the reasons why I hate watching the initial phase of auditioning in Hollywood…sometimes the judges–particularly Simon–can be so mean to people who have been sent through by producers who knew fully well they had no chance of moving forward…..like what Alexis said, like a minnow…
I have always that that maybe the really ridiculous ones who audition have probably been some sort of professional actors getting paid to look ridiculous on national TV….but in instances like these…..I’m beginning to think otherwise…
It’s sad and ironic that a show that asks its audience to be emotionally invested in the contestants (going to the extent of playing on the viewers’ heartstrings to promote some back stories, i.e. Scott, Lil, Danny) could show little empathy and heart to poor free spirits like Alexis in the name of ratings…so sad…
yep.
I’m wondering why the title of this is called “American Idol” found dead. She only made it to tryouts, right??
Also, it seems that many people come to auditions with a gimmick. They are hoping for some screen time. That’s what I got from this girl.
I totally agree with you. This is very sad, but the only thing it has to do with AI is that she audtioned in the past. The show had nothing to do with he death and is not responsible. People sign up for the show and by now should know that they can and will be exploited. RIP Alexis.
edit: dial it back. If you’re that emotional about it, you shouldn’t be reading
She made it to the third round, just shy of Hollywood, and she made the TV show. It’s not like she didn’t make it past the cattle call.
I read her take on the audition – and what she says happened was pretty much what I’d expected. I remember that ‘home visit’ – the heartfelt focus on her mother and how badly I felt when they ditched her like so much trash. I assumed the producers had noted a hint of instability and decided to play it up for the camera. This is the part of Idol I hate – the manipulation and exploitation of people for sport. And it IS like bullying in high school – with Simon cast as the head asshole. That they turned Alexis away again this year after encouraging her to audition once again was criminal. Whatever she might have been – Alexis had dreams whose fires they stoked – unfairly, it would seem. She never would have made the top ten – and they knew it.
I’m sorry she’s dead. I think of her mother – how bad it must be now that her daughter (and means of support) is gone. All in all a terrible circumstance. Knowing this – I rather doubt I’ll watch the audition process next year. In fact – I’ve really been on the fence about watching Idol at all, to be frank. It kinda jumped the shark for me this year. Watching next season would be like viewing community theatre after years of attending Broadway shows. It might be entertaining – but not really razzle dazzle great. RIP Alexis. You deserved better. I only hope they don’t make an issue of her death next season by showing the edited tapes. That would be adding insult to already grievous injury.
After reading this, I will not be watching auditions again. Vulnerable people are not put on Earth for our amusement.
ITA Circe!
My daughter told me she read on Alexis’ MySpace that she had 72 cents in her pocket. Sad. I’m not blaming A.I. but it is sad that Simon and company have multi-millions and this poor wannabe had less than a dollar.
I never cared for the audition process and barely tolerate Hollywood weekend. I usually start watching after the top 10 selection. If there is someone I like I go back and watch the history on them. The audition week makes me not like the show.
Being this invested now is really strange for me, last season is usually forgotten at this point, or barely on my radar.
This.
I liked the way she sang, and will definitely be raising a glass to her.
Sure she was unstable but these “joke” auditions take these people and run with them without thought of consequence. While Idol cannot be blamed for her issues it is certainly clear to me that they don’t give two shits about people as long as their pockets get lined. It’s no better than pointing and laughing at retarded people.
We still use the word “actressing” around here and I will never forget her.
Be at peace.
There was a YT video of her at one of the Season 9 auditions. She said she was turned away because she was late.
They pulled the youtube video.
She always seemed unstable despite the acting for the camera. She was definitely interesting. Very sad.
What a shame. Clearly the girl was pretty disturbed, and her problems most likely preceded her time on AI. But, public humiliation on TV sure can’t help. I wish they’d be a little more careful about not televising the mentally fragile people.
Ocean City and Seaside are kind of quiet little beach towns. Unlike the rest of NJ, they have even more archaic rules about alchohol than PA does. You can’t even buy booze in Ocean City, and in either place you will be ticketed for a holding a beer in your hand anywhere but on private property. So, it’s not really the type of place you’d expect to find someone dead on the street at 4 am. Ah – so the hit and run thing explains that I guess.
I had no idea she was from Allentown before now. I’m originally from the great Lehigh Valley myself. Which of course, requires me to point out MJ that the Allentown newspaper is actually called the Morning Call. Since you’re from Pittsburgh, I’ll let it slide this time
No, she was hit by a car. See MJ’s new headline post.
I’m wondering why the title of this is called ‘American Idol’ found dead. She only made it to tryouts, right??
I wasn’t trying to down play her appearance on AI. I just thought “American Idol” referred to the #1 or at least was reserved to the top 13. I’m glad you added the word “contestant” to the title.
It’s not just the auditions alone that make this little story so heartbreaking.
That home visit! The footage of she and her mother in their tiny efficiency, one on the bed and one on the couch, the little pets, and the girl’s childish, whacky drawings that she feels are “art,” paired with her blue collar accent, her admission “I’ve never got to work with professionals before . . .”
We know the footage from home visits is edited and aired AFTER the producers know who’s been cut and who’s going on. When they put together Alexis’ package in the earlier of the two seasons, they already also had the footage of her audition: her grand ambitions, sad little voice, the judges’ laughing at her and her outburt afterward. So why show her home piece too?
So it’s like they put that together with the home visit to play up the very SADNESS of this show, and reality shows in general. Her narrow means, big hopes, and how futile they turn out to be. And then they let her back a second year just to play her one more time, and she went right with it, poor thing, with her budget attempt to dress up and be ladylike.
I think that they think that a subliminal level, our investment in the strong, talented, poised people who win or become hits off the show is deepened off of all these smashed, little pathetic hopes.
They may be right. But. Eeeeeeeeevil.
i read about alexis’s death in the headlines thread and was super shocked! i remember reading her name somewhere but when i found out it was Glitter Girl, i was pretty upset. she even tried this year but supposedly she was late and the producers wont let her try out.
anyway, i think the destiny for a lot of people whose dream is to sing on American Idol with go either way! either you get super lucky and end up like Kris Allen or get humiliated, waste a lot of time, and energy and ultimately get ridiculed at by Simon and his croonies. i wish i’m not that invested as i am in AI this year. its been pretty bittersweet
she def wasnt acting at all when she flipped him off thats how she always was when she got pissed trust me many of our teachers saw that face and heard the why do i fell like….
My boyfriend was one of the two men who found her dead in the middle of the street that early morning. She was found in the fetal position with scratches on her legs, and excessively bleeding from her head, and they tried to revive her by giving her CPR. Her ID, wallet, belongings, were sprawled out [meticulously] around her.
He did not know who she was, only that she was a girl that needed help. We both don’t watch American Idol, but these past days have been nervewracking and it pains me even more now to know that this girl is so well-known.
I asked my boyfriend what he thought – it was no hit and run accident.
RIP Alexis, and may God give her family strength to get through this.
My boyfriend was one of the two men who found her dead in the middle of the street that early morning. She was found in the fetal position with scratches on her legs, and excessively bleeding from her head, and they tried to revive her by giving her CPR. Her ID, wallet, belongings, were sprawled out [meticulously] around her.
He did not know who she was, only that she was a girl that needed help. We both don’t watch American Idol, but these past days have been nervewracking and it pains me even more now to know that this girl is so well-known.
I asked my boyfriend what he thought – it was no hit and run accident.
RIP Alexis, and may God give her family strength to get through this.
i hope to go and pray they find out the truth and who did this so we as her friends and family can actually grieve well enough thank you to your bf who tended to her
First Michael Jackson and now Alexis Cohen. Condolences to Alexis. She was a raging riot. Alexis Cohen, 25, was apparently struck and killed by a car in what authorities are calling an apparent homicide. If you are curious to know more about her I have collected some good sites and articles (more than 200 sites) that gives complete information (Latest News, Pics, Videos) about Alexis Cohen. Check the below if you are interested.
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