"American Idol" Scandal: Was a Top 24 Singer Cut Over Confidentiality Breach?

After all the recent drama surrounding American Idol's judges, Season Nine finally has its first contestant scandal. According to reports, Michael "Big Mike" Lynche, one of the 24 contestants to make it out of Hollywood Week alive, has been booted from the show after his father confirmed the news to the St. Petersburg Times. The revelation was a violation of Idol's serious confidentiality agreement, so Lynche was reportedly nixed and a singer named Antwan Michael, who missed the initial cut, replaced him, according to Idol blog Joe's Place, who first reported on Lynche's exit.

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The story was quickly picked up by the New York Post and People, but Fox and AI producers haven't yet commented on the allegations. Still, if news of Lynche's eviction from Idol prove true, the punishment seems excessive. Even before Lynche's father spoke out, Idol destination MJ's Big Blog reported (spoiler alert) that Lynche was among the Top 24. Ellen DeGeneres will make her Idol debut during the show's Hollywood Week episodes, which begin airing February 9th.

According to the St. Pete's blog post that confirmed Lynche was in the Top 24, "Big Mike" was plucked from Idol's Orlando auditions, though his stint in front of the judges wasn't shown on television. Back in 2004, Michael's brother Marque Lynche Jr. also made to Hollywood but was ultimately cut before that season's Top 12 was selected.

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Song Stories

“Youth Knows No Pain”

Lykke Li | 2011

“Like on 'Youth Knows No Pain' — we are the ones that should demonstrate, because we can take it,” Likke Li said. “We can pierce ourselves, take Ecstasy, dance all night and still go to work at our McDonald's jobs.” Despite the hedonistic sentiment in the song, the Swedish singer also admitted in hindsight her youth had repercussions. “I remember when I was 18-19 and feeling that I know it all,” Li said. “I always feel that I know it all. But that song is about realizing you don’t, and reflecting, ‘Boy, if I only knew what would follow.’”

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