16-year-old Caleb Kennedy has left the American Idolcompetition after a video of him surfaced and made the rounds on the internet.
Kennedy, who had advanced to the Final Five of Idol, announced his departure from the show after a video showed up on Twitter of him with somebody in a KKK style hood.
You can see the clip here:
THIS SHOULD\u2019VE STAYED IN YOUR DRAFTS: American Idol contestant Caleb Kennedy allegedly seen in a resurfaced with someone wearing a KKK hood. Caleb is allegedly blocking anyone who mentions the video, according to multiple reports.pic.twitter.com/9OKHmvOCEB— Def Noodles (@Def Noodles) 1620792056
Kennedy announced his departure on Instagram.
Kennedy 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."
Caleb Kennedy is allegedly blocking anyone who mentions the video of him with the person wearing a KKK hood.pic.twitter.com/scfnIgXS6G— Def Noodles (@Def Noodles) 1620792058
He will be fine just like Kyle Rittenhouse, racist will make him very richhttps://twitter.com/defnoodles/status/1392328917046857733\u00a0\u2026— Chicka117 (@Chicka117) 1620926024
#CalebKennedy #americanidol literally referenced the confederacy in a song he wrote about "rebel" blood or something. so it was in his song.https://twitter.com/defnoodles/status/1392328917046857733\u00a0\u2026— Equality Justice Environment Education (@Equality Justice Environment Education) 1620924565
Was this during a meeting?https://twitter.com/defnoodles/status/1392328917046857733\u00a0\u2026— Mr. Joe Schmoe \ud83c\udfa7\ud83c\udfb5\ud83c\udfa5\ud83c\udfac (@Mr. Joe Schmoe \ud83c\udfa7\ud83c\udfb5\ud83c\udfa5\ud83c\udfac) 1620922736
Kennedy's mother told MSN the video "was taken after Caleb had watched the movie The Strangers: Prey at Night and they were imitating those characters."
She continued:
"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."
Look...I definitely think this is racist. With that being said, he was 12 years old. Almost certainly a product of an older influence.https://twitter.com/defnoodles/status/1392328917046857733\u00a0\u2026— Ozzie (@Ozzie) 1620921765
Tell him mullets went out of style as well as the KKK. Please.https://twitter.com/defnoodles/status/1392328917046857733\u00a0\u2026— Jennifer Dean (@Jennifer Dean) 1620917960
My son is 12 yrs old and knows the difference between right and wrong. Your mommy wants us to give you a pass, but you won't get one here you little racist bastard!https://twitter.com/defnoodles/status/1392328917046857733\u00a0\u2026— Rickey Dean (@Rickey Dean) 1620907316
None of the characters in The Strangers: Prey At Night wore a KKK hood.
Also, Kennedy's video mysteriously includes the word "bow" with no explanation.
How exactly should one take a KKK hood?— Robert \u26be (@Robert \u26be) 1620877516
maybe don't sit next to people wearing KKK hoods??????— queirdo (@queirdo) 1620856538
I still can\u2019t get over \u201cit displayed actions that were not meant to be taken in that way\u201d \n\nHow do you think a KKK hood is meant to be taken\u2026..?https://twitter.com/calebkennedy/status/1392586662526427138\u00a0\u2026— hutch (@hutch) 1620886554
As a result of Kennedy's withdrawal from the competition, the next elimination on American Idol on this coming Sunday, May 16, will only be a single rather than a double elimination.
@PreetBharara/X
@RepBrendanBoyle/X
@twesq/Bluesky
@christopherharris/Bluesky
@evangelinewarren/X
@FrankC164/X
AMC