Chris Golightly Disqualified from ‘American Idol’ Top 24

Season 9 of American Idol is just heating up, but the controversy has already begun as original Top 24 finalist Chris Golightly has been disqualified.

After revealing seven of the top 24 finalists on Tuesday’s show, the remaining finalists were revealed on Wednesday, and they appeared to include Golightly.

He was shown in the group photo that was displayed toward the end of the program.  However, during the final dance routine, he was suddenly replaced by Tim Urban.

Fox issued the following statement on the matter:

“It has been determined that Chris Golightly is ineligible to continue in the competition.  American Idol contestant Tim Urban has replaced Golightly as part of the Top 24.”

Ryan Seacrest tweeted a similar message, and also revealed that the 2010 contestants will have their own MySpace, Twitter and Facebook pages. He did not, however, elaborate on why Golightly was shown the door.

Seacrest tweeted, “been determined that Chris Golightly is ineligible to continue on IDOL, contestant Tim Urban has replaced Golightly as part of the Top 24…must have broken a rule or maybe had previous deal”.

Golightly spoke to American Idol fan site JoesPlaceBlog.com on Wednesday after the broadcast and revealed that he had an expired contract with a boy band that ran out in June 2009.

He stated that he had auditioned for American Idol in July, which was after the contract had expired.  When he made it through to Hollywood, he had to sign something asking if he currently had any contracts, to which he answered “no.”

Execs found out about the deal and asked Chris Golightly about it.  He informed them that the contract had expired but he could not locate his release paperwork.  They decided to boot him because he couldn’t prove that he was not under contract.

Ironically, his old manager then found the contract release and sent it to Chris, but it was too late.  Even worse, because he made it to the top 46 this year, he reportedly cannot audition for season ten.

Golightly is talking to lawyers, but it’s doubtful that they can do anything for him at this point.

There were also rumors swirling that Michael Lynche had also been disqualified after his father seemingly revealed to a Florida newspaper that he was a semifinalist, which is against Idol rules.

That has not been confirmed, however, and Lynche still seems to be in the Top 24, for now anyway.

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