So, I Facebook messaged Chris about an hour ago, on the off chance that he would respond. He just messaged me back, and had no idea who I was, but just gave me his phone number. I wasn’t sure who I was calling, but it was indeed the latest casualty from the American Idol machine, Chris Golightly. He actually had no idea who I was, but I told him I wrote a Idol Blog, mentioned the blog and I heard crickets. But he wants his story out there. Here’s a brief rundown of what has happened in Chris’ life.:
(This was all that was told to my by Chris, I have not checked over anything – no fact checking. I just told him I would post whatever he wanted me to say)
Chris had an old contract with a Boy Band. That contract expired in June on 2009. Chris then auditioned in July for American Idol. After the contract had expired. When Chris made it to Hollywood, he had to sign the standard AI contract. It asks if he had any current contracts. Chris answered No.
Chris then makes it to the top 24 in January 2010. He get’s out of his lease at his apartment and has to sell his car to pay the lease fees.
About a week ago, the person that Chris had a Contract previously with called Chris and American Idol and told them that he still had a valid contract. ( I have the managers name, but won’t post it) Chris said that no, he was released from his contract, but couldn’t find his copy of the release
Yesterday there was a flurry of telephone calls between Chris AI, 19, or Fox big wigs).
Patrick Lynn called Chris at 5 pm yesterday and told him that he was out for not proving that he no longer had a valid contract. Patrick Lynn told Chris that he was Patrick’s favorite contestant, but there was nothing he could do.
Right after hanging up the phone, the old manager FINALLY found the contract release. He emailed it to all above as well as to Chris. Now, no one will take his call. They even told him that since he made the top 46, he could not try out again next year (WTF, this is news to me)
Watching Idol for Chris tonight just killed him. They acted as if he never existed, when he gave his heart and soul (not to mention all of his posessions and his home)
This kid is now sleeping in someone’s garage, with no job and no car. He is meeting with a very prominent attorney tonight at 9:30. He was talking to me while waiting for a ride – since he sold his car for Idol.
I don’t know about you all, but I think that this kid got royally screwed for misplacing a contract release.
Can anything else possibly happen to this kid?
Any major news sources out there? Chris said for me to give you his phone number, so drop me an email at jp@joesplaceblog.com
A HUGE thank you to Dave at VFTW for the great screen cap.
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LOL. Except I thought that I’d read she’s been reported missing since New Year’s. Something about her car being found but she was gone!!! Now THAT is truly bad luck. Don’t know if she was found or that situation resolved. Good thoughts to her…
Except I thought I read Angela Martin had gone missing on New Year’s! Something about her car being found but no sign of her. Now THAT’s bad luck! I don’t know if she was ever found or if that was resolved… good thoughts to her.
Oops, I looked it up. It was Angela Martin’s mother who recently went missing and was still missing as of Hollywood Week. If they mentioned this on AI, I didn’t catch it. Obviously, I don’t watch the backstories very closely. Still, I don’t think Chris Golightly can compete with Angela Martin for worst luck ever.
American idol right?? I think you shouldn’t even be posting this on your “BLOG” well yes I call it a big stab in the back to that poor poor kid!!!
I dont keep up with idol at all never have and probably never will but this story caught my eye on my homepage of aol news. My opinion is why would his manager try to screw him of a dream when he himself didnt have proof at hand and didnt double check the proof before making the call… Why wouldnt he find the contract and then find his mistake and keep things at that. This man is trying to get into this boys life because he knows he has talent obviously because he had a contract with him so by showing him he made a mistake and trying to make things right and chris does make a great future of a artist then he sees that he might try to keep him tied in to make himself somebody as well. I mean what would someone do if they were a no name manager and signed a talented young man that has a big shot at the hottest contest of today? He will try to get his name out there for ratings and to be known. He wants his publicity. I feel chris you have been cheated and hurt and i wouldnt trust this man as far as you could throw him. I wish you the best in being the winner of all the battles that have yet came just like you have battled the life you have went through already! Good luck and break a leg!
I can’t stand his hair but his voice is amazing – AI is just about all the controversy.
Well, it will not do any good to get an attorney, an attorney wrote the rules to begin with. But hold on maybe something will change….in March
I think, everyone is missing the point.
He failed to disclose that he EVER had a contract.
Once it became clear he had, he couldn’t produce the paperwork to prove he wasn’t currently under contract in a timely manner.
Cut and Dry.
JC, he told me that he told them he had a prior contract on September 3, 2009 right after he made it to Hollywood. However, it is a he said/she said instance, as it was a verbal interview from the background checkers for AI
Totally makes sense: managers live and die by their notoriety and if this guy gets his name associated (however ignominiously) with a favored entry, then he’s done his PR homework. Sounds like he made the claim (knowing he’d be called on it) but likely wasn’t aware or cared that Golightly would be kicked off. I’m sure his “restitution” to Golightly will be an offer for another contract (now that his client is sufficiently semi-famous).
OK Kids, I read every single blog entry and many people made excellent points, especially Carol. Then again, I think the people in this forum made EVERY point to be had, whether you agree or not.
Now I’m an actor and musician. I have had a manager for years who has handled every kind of contract known to mankind. Now there are good ones and there are bad ones. There are also crooks. I am fortunate to have an excellent one. Please keep in mind that managers — unlike franchised agents — are not regulated by anyone. No union oversight, no rules, nothing. That’s why there are so many bad ones….the crooks. Just ask the Backstreet Boys about their first manger. But in this scenario, there are still things we don’t know. Without being critical, Jc2722 didn’t get it quite right. It ISN’T cut and dry. Chris did not have to prove that he EVER had a contract, only that he was not under a CURRENT contract. And apparently, he wasn’t.
Here’s the part that’s missing, remembering that one is innocent until proven guilty. WHERE IS THIS CONTRACT? ANYONE can call and say that they are a manager and holds a valid contract on a particular talent. OK, then where is it? Prove it. If the manager indeed produced one, which isn’t really clear, and it had a TERMINATION date of June 2009 and Chris asserted…well then, Case Closed. Game Over. Producing an expired contract is meaningless. If it was a valid contract IN FORCE, then yes, Chris would have to prove he was released from it. Knowing this might come up, he should have gotten on the plane to California with the release in his pocket. But these kids are young and all artsy types tend to be space cadets, except me of course…….that’s supposed to be funny.
If AI isn’t returning calls, then they’re hiding something. Having a verbal interview with contestants is one thing. Contestants can SAY anything they want. But it comes down to the paper trail. And if AI didn’t do their homework and axed Chris because of a phone call from The Phantom Manager then AI and Fox are in big trouble. In legalese, that’s known as heresay. In English, that’s known as gossip. You can’t fire someone based on gossip.
Knowing the Slime-Bucket-Greedy-Ass-Conceited-Bastard managers that exist today, I agree with others here that this so-called manager was in it purely for himself. He waits until Chris is nearing the Top 24, THEN he suddenly appears. Chris was on the verge of making it VERY big and this manager wanted a piece of the action. Now THAT is cut and dry.
Joe, I hope you stay in contact with Chris and tell him for me, I have a lawyer whose nickname is The Shark. He would LOVE to take this case. Enuf said.
Scotty, Have the Lawyer get in touch with me at jp@joesplaceblog.com. Chris would like to speak with him, for sure.
American Idol should bring Chris Golightly back.
With all the other examples of past errors overlookd, do the right thing!!
I think that he was banned from coming back next year not because he made it to the top 46 but because he made it to the top 24. At least that better be the case. Because there is a little red headed twit on the girls side who sat in that hot seat at the top 46 waiting to hear if she is going through to the top 24 but she got a no. that was season 8 yet here she sits season 9 top 24 after coming back from season 8′s reject list. So for Chris’s sake I hope someone meant to say he cant come back next year because he made it to the top 24. If not there is some major double standard crap going on here. Which has happened before like the Black girl who was DQ a few seasons ago for nude photos and the girl a season after that who also posed in the buff who got to stay oh yeah and she was white. Idol producers need to be on the unemployment line for this crap.
In response to Scotty…
I think JC’s comment was cut and dry too. You speak of a paper trail, and on his application, Chris wrote that he NEVER had a contract… and then shady manager steps in and says, “yes, yes he did have a contract” and probably showed it (and Chris may be leaving that part out of his side of the story).
Never mind the rest of chatter that happened after that, release dates and expiration dates and which means what. The kid screwed up. If you’re unsure how to fill out a form, you ASK. You walk up to someone with a headset on and ask for clarification.
Not to mention that if he actually was under a contract and wanted to be famous and had gotten the ball rolling, you keep track of your paperwork. I’m not in any entertainment field at all… but as I near the end of my graduate schooling, I know which papers need to be accessible at all time. You keep track of your stuff. And if you’re not going to do it, then you need to pay someone to do it. It only comes back to bite you in the ass (believe, stuff like this happens to everyone… it’s just that 99% of us aren’t on reality shows that have quick turnarounds for putting episodes on air).
I also agree with the point that you shouldn’t give up everything on the chance you’ll make it far enough to get a nice little paycheck to make up for what you gave up. I recognize that he didn’t have immediate family, but in these tough economic times, you need to cover your ass. Sublet your apartment instead of breaking the lease. Don’t sell your car. Even if he made it through the first week, who is to say he’d make it through the second or third week? That he’d even make the top 12!?
ANYWHOIZZLE… I think making it a top 13 guys would be dumb, as it was dumb last year and i only think they did that because they needed something else for people to talk about than Adam Lambert’s eyeliner (Not to mention, that Jorge never should’ve made the top, and Matt should’ve just been the last one in).
One thing, though, Chris probably would’ve diversified this top 24 a bit more. You can pretty much already name who’s gonna cancel who out.
Oof. That was a lot!
This is all a big misunderstanding. Idol needs to bring chris back! he is such an amazing talented singer. Just make 13 boys this year. Its not fair what you guys are doing. He has the paper work. Bring him back. Do the right thing
serves him right..i told you not to fall for golightly..he knew what he was doing..he wanted to keep that other contract in case idol didn’t work out for him..and look what happened..he’s a con artist..or he just may have been stupid enough to not get that squared away before goin into idol..shows he’s not a responsible adult..karma is a biatch!!! lol..
American Idol has already called back another contestant and written him off. They probably did the logistics and settled everything. That’s probably why they didn’t budge.
u have got to be kidding me~~~~ is ANYONE WITH A BRAIN BUYING THIS BS????? Chris time to go back to your job sweetie and grow up!!!!!
How can some of you be so cold hearted?? He sold his car and apartment obviously for his DREAM!! I think that is more dedication than anything! My heart goes out to him and I know I would have voted for him until the last night!!
TOTALLY DEVASTATED AND CAUGHT OFF GUARD I HOPE IT ALL WORKS OUT IN THE END. I BELIEVE THAT THIS ANONYMOUS PERSON THAT CALLED IN IS JUST SOMEONE THAT WANTS TO REALLY RUIN HIS CAREER FOR WHATEVER REASON AND THAT THE MANAGER IN QUESTION REALLY DID SUBMIT THE QUALIFYING INFORMATION NEEDED SO THAT THIS IS NOT AN ISSUE…NOW ITS JUST ABOUT BRINGING HIM BACK ON THE SHOW FOR HIS FANS EITHER WAY OPPORTUNITIES ALWAYS NOCK WHEN YOU HAVE TALENT AND CAN BE RESILIENT AND GET OVER THE OBSTACLES CHRIS HAS NO PROBLEM DOING! THIS IS HIS DREAM WERE TALKING ABOUT HERE. ITS VERY SERIOUS. ALSO, IT DOESNT MATTER WHERE HE LIVES,WHAT HE DID TO GET TO WHERE HE IS AT, ALL THAT MATTERS IS HE IS VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT SINGING AND LOVES TO DO IT WITH ALL HIS HEART SO OF COURSE WHEN YOU ARE DRIVEN U DO ANYTHING TO GET THERE NO MATTER WHAT…HE HAS TALENT.HE GOT LET GO FOR THE WRONG REASON,HE REALLY DOES NEED AND DESERVE THIS, HE HAS PROVEN HE COULD MAKE THE CUT EVEN BE IN THE TOP 24 SO WHY LET THIS HAPPEN!!??IT BAFFLES ME.
I just read the entries after my first one. It goes like this:
Stephanie, Stephanie, Stephanie, I’m not being facetious, but you don’t have the premise right. Chris DID NOT write on his application that he never had a contract. He wrote that he did not have a CURRENT contract. American Idol cannot disqualify anyone for having past contractual dealings of any kind. For that matter, no company or entity can do the same unless you have a “no compete” clause or “termination agreement” in that contract. I’ll give you an example:
Years ago I did a commercial for MCI (remember them?). And because of that, I was ineligible to do a commerical for Cingular, Bell South, AT & T, etc. for six months. Why? I signed a contract with a “no compete” clause forbidding me to work for any other cellular phone company.
If you will remember there was an Irish girl (with lots of tatoos) on the show a couple of seasons ago who had a recording contract with a small company at one time. She even laid some tracks for an album. It had no bearing on her eligibility whatsoever and, quite frankly is nobody’s business because the contract was terminated. Over. Done with.
You speak of the “rest of the chatter that happened after.” It isn’t chatter, it’s fact. Release dates, expiration dates have EVERYTHING to do with this. Whether you think Chris screwed up or not is your opinion to which you are absolutely entitled. I don’t think he should necessarily have given up his apartment and sold the car either. But he did. Fool hearty or courageous….you decide.
The key element remains: Even if the Phantom Manager had produced a valid contract, the Manager himself found and forwarded the release from the very same contract! Deadlines, moratoriums, clauses, addenda….that’s the stuff we don’t know. That’s what lawyers are for…..
Well Scotty… looks like all our discussion was for nothing.
In Chris’s press conference that he insisted on having… he signed a two-year contract one MONTH before auditioning. He probably begged for a release from his contract. So it was chatter… if we define chatter by whining and complaining and lying.
Chris Golightly should just go-lightly into the background and fade away. He messed up. He messed up big time. And no one should pity him.
Maybe I didn’t word it exactly right, as I’m well aware of Carly Smithson (you know, that Irish girl with all the tattoos? [yes, I caught your condescension, unfortunately, I've been watching Idol for quite a long time]) and her pre-Idol experience. But regardless… she did her homework and did everything right and that’s why SHE made it on the show, and he didn’t.
It’s a tough world out there. And after the revelation that Chris is just lying to get sympathy and to get someone to fix his mistakes, I’ll be voting for Tim Urban regardless.
And well done on the part of the TPTB for rightfully disqualifying him. Looks like they got something right for the first time in a long time.
The old managers Name was LAWRENCE, and he was part of DREAMPROJECTENTERTAINMENT, he was a really shitty manager and the boy band was together for not even 2 months, the contracts that were signed were the most ghetto things, and DPE royally f’ed over CHRIS, whom is actually a really cool kid, and didnt deserve to get screwed over by his OLD JEALOUS MANAGER, anyone have any complaints about LAWRENCE XXXXXXXXX is the DPE office, his mobile is XXXXXXXXXX. His myspace is http://www.myspace.com/dreamprojectsentertainment.
I just want the nation to know that CHRIS GOLIGHTLY isnt lying and did get the run around.
Singing, Dancing, will you please post this comment in my latest post about Chris HERE: http://www.joesplaceblog.com/2010/02/chris-golightlys-release-document/
Thank you!
Stephanie, this is the second blog in which I have ever participated mainly because bloggers tend to be younger and take people’s comments personally. I get the impression that you feel I am scolding you. I am not. As I said previously, I am not being facetious. Also, your impression of my condescension is quite misguided. I simply didn’t remember Carly Smithson’s name as you do. That’s why I referred to her as an Irish girl with tattoos, mainly because she is. Those two traits also made her even more memorable.
You seem to be attacking Chris Golightly and me as well. My entries here are meant to enlighten the readers of this forum as I am a career performing arts professional of many years, a career that began at the age of nine. I speak from a position of extensive experience.
With that said, I reaffirm: it’s all about the facts. Period. I did not see Chris’ press conference although I’m sure I can find it rather easily. I only look to the paper trail. That’s all that matters. Joe has been good enough to post both an original contract and a copy of the release from Dream Project Entertainment. So this is simple: IF the documents are authenticated, then Chris IS NOT lying….about this incident anyway. So read them.
1) The original contract is dated May 30, 2009
2) The release is dated June 7, 2009
3) The audition was in July, 2009
Again, the following is true IF the documents are authentic.
1) Chris said he signed a contract about a month
before the audition. True.
2) He said he signed a fully executed release from
the same contract. True.
3) This makes the contract valid for a grand total
of eight days.
Your contention that Chris lied is totally false. Chris DID do his homework and he did everything right. Conversely, and this is important: when Lawrence Franklin called AI to say that he had a valid contract with Chris Golightly the only person lying was Lawrence Franklin. The manager lied, not Chris. Chris did not mess up. He doesn’t want anyone to fix his mistakes. He didn’t make any. He did not lie. American Idol disqualified him based on a lie, a documented lie. Lawrence Franklin is the liar here. Apparently he corrected his mistake, but nevertheless, he lied. I don’t believe for a minute that he didn’t remember signing a release. He remembers the contract, but doesn’t remember signing the release EIGHT DAYS LATER. Bull.
This means that American Idol, Patrick Lynn and Lawrence Franklin are all culpable and could easily be sued. All of them. Since AI and Simon Fuller have more money than Oprah, Chris will have to find a pro bono attorney.
As to Carly Smithson, a friend of mine pointed out my error. Carly did not have her recording contract released. The company went out of business. So she didn’t do her homework. There was no company with which to do business.
Stephanie, you said, “It’s a big bad world out there.” True. And you also say that you are finishing graduate school for which you should be congratulated. But please know that I have been working in the “big bad world” for decades and in the end it’s all about one thing. To quote Jack Webb: “The facts m’am……. just the facts.”
Scotty-great posts! I’m not sure what Stephanie’s problem is, but she definitely has an ax to grind based one her posts. Maybe she is a friend of Mr. Franklin or an AI affiliate. Something doesn’t add up with her vitriolic posts in regard to the situation with Chris and responses to your enlightening clarification.
I’m seriously prayin’ for this kid. Someone’s gotta teach him about the law of attraction so he can get some positive changes in his life. A sweet soul. He deserves his shot.
I dont get it. I thought the American Idol that got cut was Big Mike Lynch, because his father leaked to the media that his son made it to the top 24? It was big news in San Diego.He broke a contract and still made it in. So American Idol can bend the rules. I hope the young man can get his chance somewhere. If he did make it there and even to a previous band he can make it. I hope he keeps on singing and keep up his spirit. Be strong!