Caleb Kennedy Booted From ‘American Idol’ Over Video Featuring KKK-Style Hood

Martin Holmes May 13, 2021, 7:54 am

American Idol Season 19 Caleb Kennedy — Eric McCandless/ABC

American Idol has dropped finalist Caleb Kennedy after a video emerged online showing the contestant sitting next to someone wearing a white hood similar to those worn by the Ku Klux Klan.

The South Carolina native had recently earned a spot in the Top 5 of the ABC singing competition. Show judges Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie referred to him as “gifted” and a “true anomaly” in the most recent episode. However, this coming Sunday’s episode, which was set to include a double elimination, will now not include Kennedy.

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Sunday’s episode will feature a Top 4 with one contestant elimination.

Kennedy himself took to Instagram to apologize to his fans for letting them down, writing, “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.”

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A post shared by Caleb Kennedy (@calebkennedyofficial)

Speaking about the video, which shows Kennedy turn the camera to a friend in a white hood with the eyes cut out, the 16 year old singer explained, “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.”

Kennedy’s mother, Anita Guy, told the Spartanburg Herald-Journal that the videos were filmed when her son was 12 years old and have been taken out of context. She stated that the clip was a reference to the movie The Strangers: Prey at Night and not the KKK.

“I hate this has happened and how Caleb is being portrayed by people online,” Guy said. “Caleb doesn’t have a racist bone in his body. He loves everyone and has friends of all races.”