‘American Idol’ drops Caleb Kennedy amid movie of KKK hood

Caleb Kennedy, a top rated 5 finalist on “American Idol,” will no for a longer period compete on the display right after a controversial aged movie of the youthful singer circulated on social media this week.

The Periods confirmed Thursday that Kennedy, 16, will not move ahead on ABC’s singing opposition, and Sunday’s episode will “feature the Prime 4 with one particular contestant elimination.”

The news comes right after a harming movie of Kennedy surfaced on the web Tuesday. In it, the singer sits subsequent to a man or woman in a pointed white sheet with eyeholes slash out, closely resembling a Ku Klux Klan hood. The term “bow” is captioned above the clip. YouTube persona Def Noodles (Dennis Feitosa) shared the clip on Twitter, wherever it has currently attracted more than 100,000 views.

Though ABC and “American Idol” haven’t issued a public statement, Kennedy’s departure from the display was tranquil but swift. His appearances have considering that been taken off from the show’s official YouTube channel and Instagram and Twitter accounts.

Kennedy, a South Carolina indigenous, issued an apology Wednesday.

“There was a video clip that surfaced on the web and it displayed steps that had been not meant to be taken in that way,” he wrote. “I was more youthful and did not imagine about the steps, but that is not an justification.”

In an job interview with the Herald-Journal, a member of Kennedy’s family reported the video clip was recorded when the singer was 12.

“I detest this has occurred and how Caleb is getting portrayed by folks on line,” Anita Male, Kennedy’s mom, informed the South Carolina newspaper. She explained the apparel was inspired by the 2018 horror film “The Strangers: Prey at Night,” and that Kennedy after dressed up as the main character in “V for Vendetta” for Halloween.

“[The hood] experienced nothing at all to do with the Ku Klux Klan, but I know that is how it appears,” she continued. “Caleb does not have a racist bone in his physique. He enjoys every person and has mates of all races.”

“I wanna say sorry to all my fans and anyone who I have allow down,” Kennedy wrote in his apology statement, noting that he’ll be stepping absent from social media briefly. “I know this has harm and dissatisfied a ton of people today and designed people eliminate regard for me. I’m so sorry! I pray that I can a single day regain your trust in who I am and have your respect! Thank you for supporting me.”

Period 19 of “American Idol” premiered in February with judges Luke Bryan, Katy Perry and Lionel Richie. Kennedy had impressed the panel with performances of original tracks he experienced published and done on the exhibit.