I don't watch this show but I was intrigued by this, having just recently checked some ratings online and seeing that American Idol is THE top rated program among African-Americans. link
So I'm inclined to disagree with any notion that the audience votes are 'racist'. Although when you look at the figures, just over 3 million (Nielson only?) African-Americans are watching the show per episode, when the story states that over 20 million people vote.. that is a small percentage. I think the only solution is for everyone to stop watching this crap anyway. link
Elton John Says 'American Idol' Vote Is 'Racist'
Tue Apr 27, 2:17 PM ET
NEW YORK (Reuters) - British Rock star Elton John (news), a guest judge this month on the U.S. talent hunt TV series "American Idol," said on Tuesday that he found the voting by the national viewing audience "incredibly racist."
John, who heard the wannabe pop stars perform his songs during an appearance on the FOX TV show, added his voice to a chorus of dissent that followed last week's shock exit of black vocalist Jennifer Hudson, considered one of the top talents among those vying for a recording contract.
"The three people I was really impressed with, and they just happened to be black, young female singers, and they all seem to be landing in the bottom three," said John, commenting on the tally in which the lowest vote-getter is eliminated.
"They have great voices. The fact that they're constantly in the bottom three -- and I don't want to set myself up here -- but I find it incredibly racist," John said at a news conference promoting his Radio City Music Hall concert backed by an orchestra of students from London's Royal Academy of Music and The Juilliard School of New York.
The show often gets more than 20 million people voting.
The other two singers grouped in the bottom three of the seven remaining "American Idol" finalists last week were black divas La Toya London and Fantasia Barrino.
The results moved show host Ryan Seacrest to remind viewers that the series was a talent hunt and not a popularity contest.
"America, don't forget you have to vote for the talent," Seacrest said before closing the show. "You cannot let talent like this slip through the cracks."
FOX Television declined to comment.
Black crooner Ruben Studdard won the top prize last year.
FOX Television is part of the Fox Entertainment Group Inc., controlled by Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. Ltd.
Well, as we all know, white people are the only kind of people who can sing, so it's always going to go like that!
Look, if the black people are good enough, and clearly better than the other contestants then they should be winning, but if they don't win I hope people don't slam the show as racist.
I haven't seen it so I don't know for sure but unless they're really good, then they'll end up in the bottom three, right?
Not racist, just ignorant. How can John Stevens survive week after week? If you get him out of the Bobby Darin-Steve Lawrence genre, he is sunk. He is a pleasant vocalist, but pleasant only goes so far. I read an article on MSNBC.COM that said the reason for some of the bizarre voting results on American Idol is the large number of teenage girls who watch the show and vote for the guy they are enamored with. The basic flaw with the show is the audience is asked to vote for who they want to KEEP instead of who to vote OFF. As long as that is the case, we will continue to see marginal talent beat out real singers. And if America is so racist as to vote for anyone other than the black singer, why is rap and r&b so big in this country now? Not just among black listeners, but with a large portion of white listeners. Look at the success of Outkast. Racism is a crutch that is too often hauled out by those who would have you believe they are committed to ending it.
It was a case of the John Peter Lewis votes (the teenage girls) going to John Stevens, I think. They are both crap, but the teen vote goes a long way. I'm pulling for Fantasia..btw.
Yeah, I don't understand how any vote could be fair. Girls go for what boy(s) they most like, people vote like it's a popularity contest and of course there will be a hint of racism voting involved.
When I saw those fantastic singers...Fantasia, Jennifer and Latoya - and then saw the others who were saved, my heart sunk. Seriously, they are AMAZING singers. But if the contest really was all about voting who was best, they would never be in the bottom three unless they messed up a performance that night. Last week was the first time I felt like there was something wrong with the result. It shouldn't have happened.
"And if America is so racist as to vote for anyone other than the black singer, why is rap and r&b so big in this country now?"
Err...it's trendy and cool. If you get what I mean. Some only follow it because it's what's "in." And that's not to say that it isn't liked.
Peace,
Adam.
deleted user 29.04.2004 19:36
Kinda glad John Stevens is out...he really needed to go.
So John Stevens (white) was FINALLY voted off. That could mean that a.)the "racist" voters saw the error of their ways after being called out by Elton John, b.)there was a surge of "reverse racism" by the black audience or, more likely, c.)the vote was not racist to begin with.
Crap show. If you want reality TV, watch Reno 911 which has new eps in June!! (I know Erin likes the show.) And,The Apprentice is actually really entertaining.
Also, I feel the race card is played so much that a lot of the general public have become desensitized to it. A shame really especially for those who are racially persecuted