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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I don’t get it. Why would the former manager start this trouble for Chris, then find the contract release and try to make things good again?
Are they two different people?
OH MY GOD!
If this story is true,
Bring Golightly Back!
Why won’t the TPTB take the manager’s and Chris’ calls?
And yes, why did the manager (assuming it is only one person being referred to above) mess around with someone’s destiny and a nation’s obsession!?
@ IdolStages:
I agree. That doesn’t make any sense. The old manager sounds like a dick for trying to screw Chris Golightly over and then he sounds like an okay guy trying to right the wrong.
Either way, this all makes American Idol look really bad. Not even in terms of being professional, but in terms of being good human beings.
What I don’t understand is why someone would need a contract RELEASE if the contract is already EXPIRED, as he seems to indicate with that timeline. Does he mean that he could not find a copy of the original contract to prove it was no longer binding? That’s sh*tty luck but you can’t exactly fault AI execs for this one.
That’s completely fucked up. I can’t even imagine what he must be going through right now emotionally.
Especially since there’s no way he can just AVOID idol with its level of popularity.
Truly ridiculous.
Last night (Tuesday) I paused my TV to look at the screen when they were showing the three rooms waiting for the verdict- they stacked the images onv the screen. I noticed that Chris was in two rooms, sitting in the same position as if he’d been digitally put in. He was wearing a black hoodie with stripes and of course who could miss the hair? He was in one of the winners rooms, and I think the other was the losers room. So did they know before the show Tuesday night that he was out? Was somebody experimenting with the editing just in case?
Getting rid of everything and winding up penniless just for AI seems a very stupid move to me. Even if Chris hadn’t been DQed, he could have easily been eliminated as soon as next week. Two guys will go then. I frankly have doubts he would have made the Top 12 in any event. What would he have done then? He would be in just about the same fix he is now.
There’s sound logic behind the old warning about not putting all your eggs in one basket.
I also saw Chris in two different rooms last night. I had been looking for performances of him all during Hollywood week. They only showed him making the cut during Group Day. But, they never showed any performance by him. When one of the rooms he was in got the news that they made it, it briefly shows a clip of him hugging another guy. I paused my DVR, and rewound it frame by frame to make sure it was him. Then they show him on stage with Top 12 Guys tonight, as well as showing him on stage with Top 24. Doesnt make any sense why he was disqualified.
It doesn’t make sense to me that the contract expired and Chris has a release. A contract’s expiration date should be clear from looking at the contract itself. A release is something that would be signed to end a contract prematurely. The lawyers for the show probably told them not to say anything about the situation at this point, especially if it looks like there may be litigation. It sounds like Chris has a good lawsuit against the old manager who called and interfered with his opportunities with Idol.
IdolStages, it’s incompetence. These things happen more often than you know: people thinking a contract hasn’t expired or they have rights to something they don’t.
If Chris had his paperwork in order, he’d have been fine. He missed whatever deadline they gave him, if any, because to be blunt he’s nobody. The show must go on. It can’t stop for a dispute they have no way of knowing the factual outcome of. I don’t see him getting back on the show. At most he might get something out of the manager who made a false claim and cost him this opportunity. Most likely he’ll get nothing and unlike car boy, Josiah Lemming, he probably won’t get free stuff and an appearance on Ellen.
Excellent points, Larc.
I feel so bad and thought I was crazy since I thought he had made it but then didn’t see him at the end. I loved his audition and was cheering for him all along. This kid needs a break…sounds like a silly mistake involving paper work…if the story is true then shame on the old manager and one word for him…Karma!!!!!
“Even if Chris hadn’t been DQed, he could have easily been eliminated as soon as next week. Two guys will go then. I frankly have doubts he would have made the Top 12 in any event.”
I completely disagree. He was my favorite just from watching the city auditions and he obviously was good enough to make the top 24. Look at Kris Allen from last season. He wasn’t a clear favorite EVER, especially from the beginning as he was given 0 air time. To say the guy deserved it is mean and unfair.
For something that is obviously so important to him, you’d think Chris would make sure he had all his ducks in a row – like keeping track of contracts. Unless he was born yesterday, he should know how important that kind of thing is on Idol. And if he did’t know, that’s his fault, not Idol’s.
I sent your story to a couple of News channels. They are both with fox but hopefully they will check it out.
Sounds to me chris just steped on a land mined and it exploded. I really thought chris would be top 5 material if not have a great chance at winning this whole thing.
He has a signed contract with some other band but its obvious the band is a joke so why kick him of idol? If the boy band he was in actually was even legit he would not be living in some ones garage.
Bring him back or Im done watching idol after 8 years!
Okay, here’s what I’m missing… the manager that made the phone call would have had to have produced a copy of a valid contract. If Chris’s expired prior to audition then any legally binding documents would not be applicable. If he BROKE his contract, that’s a different story, yes he needs proof to counter the claim he is still under contract. So did the contract EXPIRE, or did he BREAK it. May sound like I’m splitting hairs, but legally it’s the world of difference. With one the liability of proof is on him (broken contract), with the other his manager (existing). Unless the manager can prove existing contract, Chris doesn’t have to prove a thing. Honestly sounds like AI DRAMA and HYPE. They will sort this out and bring him back as a wild card…?
I agree with Larc. Even if what he says is true, what kind of idiot gives up his home, car, &/or other worldly posessions just for the off chance that he won’t be eliminated by popular vote the very first week of the live show?? If this is true, I feel bad for him, but you can’t put all the blame on Idol.
Yeah, this just doesn’t make any sense … none of it! AI contestants know what is required of them, so anyone with a remotely possible contract issue should have been prepared. This entire story sounds like hogwash to me!
omg!
that is just so unfair!!!
he was such a nice guy i liked him so much!
since he found his contract by all means its fair that he comes back!
what is wrong with these ppl!
This is a non-story … nothing of interest here.
Well not going on AI would have been just as dumb. He sold everything only after being assured at the top 24, because he had to. He took a chance and it backfired, but I think it was a good chance to take. He would not be penniless if he didn’t have to quit his job to continue on idol.
This kid is not a “victim” of American Idol. He’s a victim of his own demise. If he would have done what he was supposed to do or if he had done a better job securing a legal document then he would still be on the show. Stop feeling bad for this person. Feel bad for the true victims in this country.
Looks like Angela Martin just lost her title of most unlucky contestant ever.
Chris, I know you are reading this since this is the only news about you so far.
Anyway you can tell your story to the Examiner.com in your area. It seems that Newsoutlet pays attention to that blog.
You also can go on the AOL home page and tell your story in the comment section there. Tons of people read that.
Mabe you can talk to Michael Slesik (spelling) from Entertainment weekly.
Call your local paper or your local radio station or just email them.. I am sure they will listen to you.
http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1632112/20100218/story.jhtml
We got cited by MTV!
More citations:
http://www.rickey.org/?p=32902
http://www.vh1.com/artists/news/1632112/20100218/index.jhtml?rsspartner=rssYahooNewscrawler
http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/news/breaking_news/story/1019341.html
http://mjsbigblog.com/chris-golightly-disqualified-due-to-an-old-contract.htm
http://www.buddytv.com/articles/american-idol/american-idol-chris-golightlys-34663.aspx
And yet we’re not a leading Idol Blogger after being cited by both MTV and VH1?
That girl from zip2it said she emailed me….I will have to go check my old emails….lol
This is just another thing AI does for the ratings. If you watched last night then you know this is no more a “real” show then any other reality show. None of it could be real, I mean give me a break how many years have we seen the show let go of some major talent only to let through total idiots. It is all fixed.
This contract issue is just one other example of the big AI screw.
It sucks but if this is the business you are in, you need to keep track of your paperwork. This is not AI’s fault. People need to take responsibility for their actions.
Everybody has a story. Throughout the competition the creators of American Idol weave these human interest stories into the music to make it more interesting. Now we have a real story of a young man that risked everything, made it, and now is Hollywood road kill. American Idol prints money. They have an endless supply to pay their judges millions. If this story is true, the old manager should be ashamed of himself. This David and Goliath story should end with Idol bringing him back and doing the right thing. Otherwise, I hope he sues and makes millions.
Would not be surprised if this isn’t a publicity stunt to ratchet up the viewership and ratings. There will be a ton of more viewers to IDOL next week. Idol, I am sure loves a good controversy. Look at me, I should be studying for a test and now I have diverted to this.
WHEW!!!
You got an invite? EXCELLENT!
I was personally hoping we’d all 3 be invited, but alas.
Mac: She said she emailed me days ago. I might have deleted it, thinking it junk mail. oops….but I have to work today. I dont think my boss would like me talking about Idol on the phone all day….lol
I agree with Dru. You have to keep your important paper work in order. You have a dead line you need to provide the information or else you are out. That a hard lesson he would have to learn and it could have cost him millions.
Look I just want to know who will be the 12 boy idol. Bring back big boy who they said did nothing wrong. I bet he has no contract
Well, last year Idol made an exception and had 13 boys!!!! Why can’t they do that again???? What the hell? I had not planned on following Idol this year since Paula is gone, and since Ellen is there….well, now I know for sure I’ll be watching something else….anything else except Idol.
I don’t think anyone needs to be blamed here except, maybe, the old manager. Idol was covering their a$$es. Chris lost or misplaced a piece of paper. Who amongst us has never had this happen to them? Maybe it wasn’t ever even given to him.
I think, though, that Idol should give Chris back his position or expand the 12 to 13 again like they did last season since this was ultimately a misunderstanding. It’s just the “right” and compassionate thing to do. Either that, or they need to let him try again next year.
I can understand why he is upset, it’s a great disappointment BUT he should have had all the needed paperwork handy. There isn’t anything he can do. AI probably has covered their butts twenty different ways. He himself probably signed something saying that they could dismiss him for basically any reason. It really isn’t a big issue. Most likely he would have sang for a few weeks at most and then left in the same circumstances that he came with. I never got the impression that they were going to help him in any way.
Strange that with AI Chris has to prove his contract was expired rather than someone proving it was still valid. Like in a court of law the defendant proving their innocent rather than the prosecution proving their guilty.
So what is to keep anyone from saying “Sorry you have a contract with me.”
Shouldn’t the manager had to prove that he was in a valid contract rather than Chris proving the negative?
I agree with many on here that Chris should have kept his paperwork in order but things happen. The way the situation is worded it seems like something is missing/not being told/doesn’t make sense and everything is just really unfortunate. Chris had potential but it is highly unlikely that we will see him again. But I would not put it past TPTB to do this for hype.
This got me to thinking about the situation with Todrick Hall and with all of the drama surrounding his musicals and parents of children not getting refunded “performance fees”. How could Idol let someone involved in all of that go through but let someone involved in what it seems like a mixup get DQ’ed?
So was the June 2009 release something that got Chris out of his contract early? I can imagine something like:
-The manager finds a document in his files showing Chris still under contract to him, forgetting (intentionally or otherwise) that it was superseded by a later release. The manager tells Idol that Chris is *still* under contract.
-Chris tells Idol that he’s been released from the contract. Idol asks for proof of this, which Chris can’t provide.
-Idol, having proof of the contract but not of the release, is pretty much forced to let Chris go.
AI needs to speak publicly and specifically to this issue….. if Chris is correct and has no contract and can prove it then let there be 13 boys again this year…that would solve the problem be good publicity for everybody
sandy
What a lot of you don’t understand is that Idol puts out alot of money to promote these kids. They don’t want something to come out of the wood work at the last minute. They are protecting themselves. But if he produced the document before the deedline than they should bring him back.
Joe post the manager’s name so no one will ever sign with this guy again. Because of his poor record keeping he intentionally screwed with Chris’ life. Remember you said he contacted Chris and Idol. If he was a straight up guy he would not have said anything and tore up the contract anyway. He was obviously not a very good manager either. Chris is not working and lived in and apt that he had to sell his car to get out of the lease. A good manager works for the betterment of the client not just for himself. This guy is a real piece of work!!
No way. the USA Today posted it. thats enough.
Simple solution: If you’ve ever had any sort of performance contract, you are ineligible to participate in American Idol.
For my opinion,I think this not right to remove him without talking to this guy first. Of course he is frustrated for what happened.Let him back!!!
I agree with Eric. I thought this was an amature contest, and come to find out that a lot of these people have been pro’s
This is terribly unfair…what type of help can he get to either overturn this or get legislation on his behalf.
I think we should all email to bring him back…
My think about chris is that was so disppointed from
american idol last night so if you mistake my music
teacher told me learn from it. So the next time if
won’t happen again.
God Blees
Laura C. Jones
this is all bullshit and american idol should be taken off the air because last alison had contract problems come up when she was i the top 10 and they kept her. big mike’s dad broke the rules by letting it slip that big mike was in the top 24 and he’s in the top 24. so wtf , american idol sucks ass!!!!but they did dq chris golightly and that was there big mistake because know they look bad and so they should they are hypocrits and i will never watch american idol again.the only great thing that came out of this stupid show is adam lambert!!!!!! team chris golightly 4ever!!!!!!!