David Archuleta’s dad gets banned from the set of American Idol
May 12, 2008 · Print This Article
Los Angeles (CMR) - American Idol’s David Archuleta will have to make himself cry from now on.
His dad, Jeff, has been banned from the backstage of the reality show, according to the Associated Press.
Jeff was ousted after suggesting David sing a verse from Sean Kingston’s “Beautiful Girls” on Tuesday’s show.
David was warned not to incorporate the verse because American Idol only has the rights to musty old standbys and not hot pop songs. Therefore, American Idol had to pay royalties for David to sing the lines.
Jeff, who’s been branded a stage dad by both the media and Naomi Judd alike, received a public vote of support from David’s vocal coach, Dean Kaelin.
The Idol employee told People that the only reason Jeff was banished from Idol’s inner sanctum was to maintain the show’s integrity. “David’s dad is just a caring, concerned parent that fortunately has some musical expertise,” Dean said. “Some people fear that because of this David receives an unfair advantage.”
David’s dad is more involved than the other parents because, at 17, David is a minor and requires a guardian.
Jeff was also banned from helping David backstage on Star Search when the little prodigy was 13. Naomi Judd, who was a judge on the 2003 competition, told Today that Jeff is “the worst stage dad.”
Jeff has denied this. “I’m definitely involved with my son, and I encourage him, but I think that’s a lot different from forcing and threatening and all that stuff,” he told Us Weekly. “There was absolutely no truth in any of the stories about me yelling at David, making him cry or withholding water from him. That was crazy!”
David has a real shot at winning this whole thing, so if he really doesn’t like working with his dad he’ll be able to buy a new one soon enough.
I have heard interviews with David’s Voice Coach and friends that have known David for a long time and they all indicate that the stories of a Backstage Dad are greatly exaggerated…they all say that he is very supportive of David but in no way abuses him..