"American Idol": Jermaine Jones reportedly getting booted from show
(CBS/AP) "American Idol" finalist Jermaine Jones is apparently off the show.
The 25-year-old vocal instructor from Pine Hill, N.J., tweeted Tuesday night that he no longer would be on Fox's singing contest.
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According to the Associated Press, he wrote on his official "Idol" Twitter account: "Awww I will no longer b on the show." The post and Jones' official "Idol" Twitter account were later deleted.
A Fox spokeswoman declined to comment on the matter or confirm his tweet.
TMZ reports that Jones will be kicked off the show Wednesday night after producers discovered he lied about his criminal history. According to the website, Jones was arrested twice last year and has outstanding warrants. He reportedly gave fake names to police both times he was arrested.
One of the incidents allegedly involved violence, according to TMZ. Producers reportedly learned of Jones' history this week, and he will appear on the show Wednesday before he is sent home.
Jones, dubbed the "gentle giant" by "Idol" host Ryan Seacrest, made it to the show's top 13 finalists after the judges gave him a last-minute spot among the 11th season's top 13 male semifinalists.
He was among the bottom three vote-getters last week after performing Stevie Wonder's "Knocks Me Off My Feet" but advanced to the group of top 12 singers.
"Idol" contestants in the past have been disqualified when the show deems that their work or personal history is an issue.
Corey Clark was disqualified for concealing his arrest record during the second season in 2003. Frenchie Davis was also dropped from "Idol" that year because of her previous appearance on an adult website.
During the eighth season in 2009, Joanna Pacitti was shown advancing to the top 36 semifinalists after "Hollywood Week" but was later replaced. Pacitti released an album in 2006 and had ties to 19 Entertainment, which produces "Idol" with FremantleMedia North America.
Chris Golightly was dropped from the top 24 semifinalists in the ninth season in 2010 because he didn't disclose that he had a previous record contract.
In contrast, the singing competition allowed past finalists like the sixth season's Antonella Barba and the seventh season's David Hernandez to stay on. Racy photos that appeared to be Barba had been leaked online. Hernandez was revealed as having once worked as a nightclub stripper.
