Compromising Photos of Antonella Barba Spark New ‘American Idol’ Scandal

It’s scandal time on American Idol once again! You know, it occurs to me that maybe I should write an annual companion column to my ‘Shocking’ American Idol Prediction, in which I predict that there will be a scandal involving at least one contestant’s background, and somebody may get the boot because of it.

In case you haven’t heard yet and are wondering who and what I’m talking about, the who is Antonella Barba and the what is a series of photos of her in extremely compromising situations.

Photos of Antonella started leaking out a few days ago. The initial photos showed a side of her that is not one she probably wanted on her résumé, but not horrifically scandalous. Basically, there was one that showed her sitting on the toilet, one with her and some friends topless on the beach (though covering herself up), a few of her apparently drinking before she was 21, and one of her flipping off the camera. Like I said, not 100% pure, but not the end of the world, either.

More recently, though, some seriously hardcore photos have turned up. (One site on which these photos seem to have shown up first is named IdontLikeYouInThatWay.com – but be warned if you decide to go there that these are adult pictures and, as the site says, not safe for work. Also, some sort of software/adware apparently tried to install itself on my computer when I visited the site, so be careful.) The photos are apparently of Antonella providing oral gratification to a man whose face we do not see.

The website says the photos are from an anonymous source who said they know the guy in the picture. This source encouraged people to compare the facial features of the woman in the picture with Antonella to confirm that it’s really her. Indeed, comparing these pictures side-by-side with verified photos of her does make a pretty convincing case.

After those pics were posted, more of the same type of photos came in to the site in question from another anonymous e-mailer. (I can’t tell if this is the same instance or another.) And another anonymous e-mailer told the website that her boyfriend, who goes to the same university as Antonella, said they were definitely real, because he saw them in person and also saw a nude calendar she made for her (now ex-)boyfriend.

Mind you, these are all anonymous e-mailers, so judging their veracity is difficult at best. However, in some ways the pictures speak for themselves. Also, there are still more new photos that were sent to the site. Neither is as graphic: One shows Antonella sitting on a basketball in only her panties and a basketball tank top, while the other shows her at a New Years party in a partly-see-through black outfit.

Is it possible, in this day and age, that at least some of these photos have been manipulated? Absolutely. However, while I don’t claim to be an expert, these look real to me. And I think Antonella is going to have some ‘splaining to do when the Idol producers come knocking on her door.

So far, the only comment I’ve seen from an Idol producer indicated he hadn’t seen the pictures yet, so there has not been any indication of whether they are going to give Antonella the boot or let her stick around. If they follow precedent, they will send her home. After all, Frenchie Davis was unceremoniously dumped four years ago because of pictures that appeared on a website called “Daddy’s Little Girls” showing her posing topless and in provocative positions.

At the time, producer Nigel Lythgoe was quoted as saying they had to be careful because Idol is “a real family show.” Because Frenchie had apparently divulged information about these pictures to producers ahead of time and she was still allowed to advance before getting the boot, all indications pointed to an advertiser likely getting upset and forcing Idol’s hand. If that was the case, it seems unlikely Antonella will get a free pass here for pictures that are even more graphic.

One difference could be that Frenchie actually posed for those pictures knowing they would be published on a website (though she claimed she was just modeling in lingerie and a new website owner used them for different purposes). Antonella was simply living her life and doing what many people do every day – but she let photos of her various actions get into the wrong hands.

I don’t think that will be enough of a difference to matter. Although it likely wasn’t Antonella’s intention for those photos to ever see the light of day, the fact is that they’re out there (and according to one anonymous e-mailer to the site showing the photos, more nude pictures of her are still to come). Producers and advertisers do not want their potential American Idol to have such compromising photos splashed across the web.

Is it right that a contestant can be kicked out of a singing competition because of a youthful indiscretion? When Frenchie was booted, many people were upset and thought it was wrong to kill her chances on the show for that reason. But the fact is that a precedent has been set. Fox and Idol can either follow that precedent – meaning Antonella is toast – or they should expect to be asked to explain why they are doing things differently this time around if they allow Antonella to remain on the show.

Idol producers are likely scrambling right now, but I would be surprised if we don’t hear of an outcome before Tuesday’s show. Be sure to check back right here at Foxes On Idol for updates.

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David Bloomberg is the Editor of Foxes On Idol, and can be reached at RNO@pobox.com.

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