“American Idol” top-five finalist Caleb Kennedy has left the show after a video surfaced showing him next to somebody wearing what has all the earmarks of being a Ku Klux Klan hood.
An representative for the show affirmed to The Post that Kennedy will presently don’t be pushing ahead in the competition.
The singer, 16, posted a statement about his takeoff on Instagram Wednesday.
“Hey y’all, this is gonna be a bit of a surprise but I am no longer gonna be on ‘American Idol,’” he wrote. “There was a video that surfaced on the internet and it displayed actions that were not meant to be taken in that way. I was younger and did not think about the actions, but that’s not an excuse. I wanna say sorry to all my fans and everyone who I have let down. I’ll be taking a little time off social media to better myself, but saying that, I know this has hurt and disappointed a lot of people and made people lose respect for me. I’m so sorry! I pray that I can one day regain your trust in who I am and have your respect! Thank you for supporting me.”
The remaining finalists include Willie Spence, Grace Kinstler, Chayce Beckham and Casey Bishop.
Kennedy’s mom, Anita Guy, gave an statement to MSN guaranteeing that the video was taken when Kennedy was 12 and roused by a film he had seen.
“I hate this has happened and how Caleb is being portrayed by people online,” Guy said. “This video was taken after Caleb had watched the movie ‘The Strangers: Prey at Night’ and they were imitating those characters. It had nothing to do with the Ku Klux Klan, but I know that’s how it looks. Caleb doesn’t have a racist bone in his body. He loves everyone and has friends of all races.”
On Tuesday, Kennedy had posted a upbeat message on Instagram, expressing gratitude toward his adherents for their help. “Hey guys! So glad to have y’all on the journey with me through #Americanidol,” he wrote. “Also really happy to be in the studio working on songs!! I love you guys so much!!”
On the latest scene this previous Sunday, May 9, Kennedy performed a throaty version of the Coldplay song “Violet Hill,” in addition to a original tune, “Mama Said,” as indicated by Heavy.com.
Mid-evening Wednesday, the show posted a Twitter secret that Billie Eilish’s brother Finneas would coach finalists in the forthcoming episode on Sunday, yet it didn’t make reference to Kennedy’s turn.
It’s not by only shocking exit this season on “American Idol.” Wyatt Pike, 20, left the competition series in the wake of making the top 12, citing “personal reasons.”