Laine Hardy has officially announced that he’s parted ways with both 19 Recordings and Hollywood Records. It comes as no surprise. After the season 19 winner was arrested earlier this year for bugging and spying on his ex-girlfriend, he disappeared from American Idol’s social media.
It’s also worth noting that Hollywood Records had removed him from their website before the scandal erupted. This, after his debut singles and EP failed to gain traction after a push in the fall of 2021.
The country singer posted a message on Instagram that read, “I was just 17 years old when I first tried out for American Idol, and at the time, I couldn’t have ever imagined where I was headed,” he continued, “Since then, I’ve been able to tour across America, play for our troops in Asia, and make new fans in Europe. I had to grow up quickly and I am still learning more about myself every day.”
“The teams at 19 Entertainment and Disney Music Group have given me so much support and guidance, and I will forever be grateful,” Laine writes. “And now it’s time for me to take my career in a new direction. And I am figuring that out. Stay tuned for what’s coming next. Love Y’all.”
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After his arrest, Laine laid low on social media, finally returning with snippets of songs on his social media accounts. Earlier this month, the singer posted a clip of a new song titled, “That Man,” co-written with Kylie Sackley and Grant Vogel.
“I wanna wake up and be proud every day of the way I’ve been living if I can,” the lyrics go. “I ain’t there yet, I ain’t perfect, but I’m working on it…”
Through his lyrics, Laine appears to be saying that he’s trying not to be the guy who would creepily stalk and spy on an ex-girlfriend. And he knows he’s not perfect but wants to be “That Man” who is “proud every day of the way I’ve been living.”
Laine doesn’t mention if he has hired new people to help him move forward, or if he’s going it alone. He should probably spend what money he has on a pr crisis team. At this time, it appears that his stalking and bugging case is still ongoing.
After breaking up Laine planted a listening device under his ex’s dorm room bed
Back in April, news broke that Laine was arrested after his ex-girlfriend found a recording device planted in her LSU dorm room.
The ex found the device under her dorm room bed back in February. Investigators found several recordings on the device dating back as far as Feb. 10, including some where they could hear Hardy’s “very distinguishable” voice. Some of the recordings were taken after the two had broken up in February, according to arrest documents.
The two only dated for about four months. She told police she first confronted Laine because he knew a suspicious amount of detail about what she did during her Christmas break. He allegedly admitted to planting a “bug” but claimed he disposed of it in his pond. The ex also provided police a screenshot of a text conversation where he admitted to leaving the device in her dorm.
The warrant also suggested that Laine removed the recorder at some point to check it before planting it back in the victim’s room.
The crime, Interception and Disclosure of Wire, Electronic, or Oral Communication, carries a maximum penalty of a $10,000 fine and up to ten years in prison.
Prior to his arrest, the singer taped a performance for The Great Idol Reunion special. It was too late to edit out his performance, but American Idol didn’t upload or publicize his duet with Laci Kaye Booth.
