‘American Idol’ Fans Livid, Blame Hatred For Elimination
By
John Witiw
American Idol News Reality TV
'American Idol' judges - YouTube
On American Idol, each season ends with one contestant as the finalist. This inevitably means that all but one will eventually be eliminated. However, fans have particularly become upset over a recent elimination, feeling the contestant lost their place on the show for discriminatory reasons.
American Idol Saw A Few Eliminations Amid Easter Sunday
The long-running American Idol has returned for Season 23. This time, the judges are Lionel Richie, Luke Bryan, and Carrie Underwood, with Ryan Seacrest returning to his presenting duties.
Recently, the series aired an Easter-themed episode on the holiday itself, complete with a “Songs of Faith” theme. However, a few contestants would see their time on the show come to an end.
Carrie Underwood and Luke Bryan
Carrie Underwood and Luke Bryan from ‘American Idol’ – YouTube
One artist who saw himself get eliminated from the show was Michael “Mikey” Jimenez, better known as “MKY.” Taking to Instagram, he shared, “I’ll forever cherish these moments, memories & friends I’ve made on this journey, and I will always be grateful for the opportunity to sing and represent LOS ÁNGELES on the national stage.
MKY continued, “Although my journey is now official over on @americanidol I’d like to welcome and embrace all the new love and supporters I’ve gained recently! Be ready because this is just the beginning.” He ended the post writing, “El tiempo de Dios es el tiempo perfecto,” meaning, “God’s timing is perfect timing.”
However, as reported by Gold Derby, many fans thought MKY’s elimination was tied to discrimination. As one fan noted, in a comment to the publication’s live blog, “With so much hatred toward the Latino community are we surprised MKY got voted out?”
A few fans even noted that MKY’s elimination was starting to turn them against the show. One fan noted, “”MKY should’ve made the top 10…not watching Idol anymore. He was by far one of the best singers in that competition. The judges’ feedback on several who made it through made it pretty clear they shouldn’t be there. Ask yourself…WHY????”
The Contestant Often Talked About His Heritage On the Show
While voting determines who stays and who goes after the judges’ initial picks, fans still think the show has had a recurring issue with bias against the Latino community. One fan shared, “I am in full agreement with the sentiment that American Idol has, at times, demonstrated bias against the Latino community. The exclusion of MKY from the top 20 lacks justification, particularly given his talent, presence, and public appeal.”
“In comparison, several contestants who advanced appeared to lack the same level of merit. I stand in full support of addressing this apparent disparity and advocating for equitable representation.”
MKY himself had been proud to talk about his heritage on the show. During Hollywood week, he shared, “Being a Mexican-America from East L.A., so much talent has been overlooked. I feel like this is my time. My family means everything to me. They’re my backbone. They’ve all sacrificed a lot for me and my dreams. To me, this is an opportunity to give back to them.”
During his original audition, MKY also shared, “Music is definitely in my blood. It’s in my DNA. My great-uncle was the first Chicano Mexican-American that was singing R&B soul music in the ’60s. My grandfather sang with a soul group called Tierra, and my dad sings R&B soul. It’s in me.”
“Whittier Boulevard represents the Chicano culture to its finest. You come down on a Sunday, definitely expect to see tons of lowriders just cruising down. It’s so beautiful. You got the palm trees, the classic L.A. Just a little taste of Mexican culture. My family has been chasing this dream, and they’ve passed it on to me.”
What do you think of MKY’s elimination? Make sure you come back to TV Shows Ace for all the latest reality TV and celebrity news.
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