Rosie O'Donnell vs American Idol

"American Idol" Executive Producer Nigel Lythgoe is slamming Rosie O'Donnell for saying his show is "racist" and "weightist." O'Donnell dissed AI on "The View" which is now banned from showing clips from "Idol." That's dumb, only Rosie made the comments, not Barbara, Joy, and Eliza-blahblahblah-whatever.




"Without wishing to add to the obvious self-promotion of Ms. O'Donnell, I feel as though I must refute her absurd and ridiculous claims that 'American Idol' is racist and/or weightist," Lythgoe says in a statement just posted on TMZ.com. "Ms. O'Donnell has, once again, spoken without thought or knowledge. Viewers need only look at the show tonight to realize that 'American Idol' constantly confirms to America that talent has nothing to do with weight or color."




Rosie called the show "weightist and racist" over the way it has handled the Antonella Barba photo scandal this season, as opposed to when it booted contestant Frenchie Davis for the same thing. Although an "Idol" spy tells TMZ that the difference is that Frenchie was paid for her pre-Idol porn, while Antonella's photos were private, and published without her knowledge or permission.




Okay, Frenchie needed the money, and she may have not posed at all had it not been for economic reasons. Plus, she may be a big girl but it's nothing compared to her BIG voice. Hello, she can sing! This season's Anotella is not a great singer and somehow even got to Hollywood probably because she has the right package looks wise. Frenchie has the chops, but gets booted off as she didn't have the right AI image being black and fat. But Frenchie got herself an honest Broadway gig, despite her unfairly being dropped off AI. I don't think Anotella should go, but it was so wrong to dismiss Frenchie. I hope she makes it bigtme like Jennifer Hudson.