16-year-old Caleb Kennedy has left the American Idol competition 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’VE STAYED IN YOUR DRAFTS: American Idol contestant Caleb Kennedy allegedly seen in a resurfaced with so… https://t.co/9sXrnv8QVc— Def Noodles (@Def Noodles) 1620792056.0
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. https://t.co/scfnIgXS6G— Def Noodles (@Def Noodles) 1620792058.0
@WeezielouQueen @thehill He will be fine just like Kyle Rittenhouse, racist will make him very rich https://t.co/YRmagkq5gc— Chicka117 (@Chicka117) 1620926024.0
#CalebKennedy #americanidol literally referenced the confederacy in a song he wrote about "rebel" blood or somethin… https://t.co/xDaSV1FLpx— Kristin Jennifer Fights (@Kristin Jennifer Fights) 1620924565.0
Was this during a meeting? https://t.co/O3cBD729Vd— Mr. Joe Schmoe 🎧🎵🎥🎬 (@Mr. Joe Schmoe 🎧🎵🎥🎬) 1620922736.0
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… https://t.co/jI7mz4nxIk— Ozzie (@Ozzie) 1620921765.0
Tell him mullets went out of style as well as the KKK. Please. https://t.co/RAQwhkuD8m— Jennifer Dean (@Jennifer Dean) 1620917960.0
My son is 12 yrs old and knows the difference between right and wrong. Your mommy wants us to give you a pass, but… https://t.co/kUQhYwYWJo— Rickey Dean (@Rickey Dean) 1620907316.0
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.
@calebkennedy How exactly should one take a KKK hood?— Robert ⚾ (@Robert ⚾) 1620877516.0
@calebkennedy maybe don't sit next to people wearing KKK hoods??????— queirdo (@queirdo) 1620856538.0
I still can’t get over “it displayed actions that were not meant to be taken in that way” How do you think a KKK… https://t.co/7fhIBHUAqj— hutch #LetsGoCanes (@hutch #LetsGoCanes) 1620886554.0
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.