Archuleta's Dad Banished from "Idol"

Posted May 10th 2008 9:50AM by TMZ Staff

TMZ has learned David Archuleta's dad, Jeff, has been officially banned from "American Idol."

Here's how it went down. "Idol" sources tell TMZ Jeff has been a complete pain in the ass, interfering with the entire production. He has badgered producers, the band, vocal coaches and even other contestants. The final straw came this week, when Jeff wanted to change the lyrics to David's first song, "Stand By Me." Jeff insisted on adding a verse from Sean Kingston's hit, "Beautiful Girls." Producers sent him an e-mail telling him the lyrics could not be changed. They were beyond pissed when David sang the song with Kingston's lyrics during the live show.

We're told by changing the lyrics, it created problems with the song's publisher and cost "A.I." a lot of money.

Jeff was ordered to sit with "A.I." lawyers on Wednesday, who told him he was "banned from being in the rooms where David was learning or rehearsing his songs." It's "Idol's" position, since David is 17, he does not need a guardian -- just a teacher. Jeff will be allowed to sit in the audience during the live show but he's 86'd from anything backstage.

Sources say the other contestants were fed up with Jeff and didn't want him near them. Now they have their wish.

All in all, sources say Jeff is the stage dad from hell. BTW, he was banned on the set when David did "Star Search" a few years back.

Filed under: TV, Music, American Idol

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(Page 26 of 26)Previous 15 Comments

376. The added lyric "Beautiful Girl" from Sean Kingston in Archuleta's "Stand By Me" performance was brilliant, in my opinion. For me, it made the song current, and more importantly, memorable. Stage Dad Jeff may be a pain in the ass, but he seems to know what he's doing.

Posted at 8:13AM on May 16th 2008 by Lady Di

377. I think David is a great singer, and maybe he needed his dad to shove him in the right direction. now that he is there, his dad needs to back off, and let the kid do what he wants, and how he wants. it his starring moment, not his dads. But, i want David Cook to win anyways, but David A is a good singer.

Posted at 9:51AM on May 16th 2008 by shakey43

378.
S315. Re #140. Karen1214: You state that Mormonism is the worlds 4th largest religion, and in the same paragraph that you call someone else ignorant about Mormonism. Boy, is that the pot calling the kettle black, or what? That is so completely wrong it's absolutely laughable. Freakin' Scientology has more adherents than Mormonism. For your info, here's the top 22, and Mormons didn't quite make the cut...

Christianity: 2.1 billion
Islam: 1.5 billion
Cecular/Nonreligious/Agnostic/Atheist: 1.1 billion
Hinduism: 900 million
Chinese traditional religion: 394 million
Buddhism: 376 million
primal-indigenous: 300 million
African Traditional & Diasporic: 100 million
Sikhism: 23 million
Juche: 19 million
Spiritism: 15 million
Judaism: 14 million
Baha'i: 7 million
Jainism: 4.2 million
Shinto: 4 million
Cao Dai: 4 million
Zoroastrianism: 2.6 million
Tenrikyo: 2 million
Neo-Paganism: 1 million
Unitarian-Universalism: 800 thousand
Rastafarianism: 600 thousand
Scientology: 500 thousand

Posted at 2:21PM on May 11th 2008 by Skidmore

________________________________________________________________________________
The worldwide membership of LDS Church is over 12 million, with most living outside of the USA.

The reason that Latter-day Saints (Mormons) do not appear to be represented on this list is that they are included in the count under Christianity. If you would have taken a look at the pie-chart on the same page you took your information from, you would have seen this.

For those posters that keep insisting that the members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS or Mormons) are not Christians, well, the definition of a Christian in the American Heritage Dictionary includes those "Professing belief in Jesus as Christ or following the religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus". So by definition, they are Christians! The Book of Mormon is simply a history of the people in the Americas during biblical times. Believe it or not. There are those that believe the bible is fiction.

Why do detractors get so upset about these teachings, anyway? If you don't believe in the teachings of the Mormon Church, so be it. The right to religious freedom is one of the greatest freedoms we have in the US. We do not have a state- sponsored religion, although the Constitution was based on Christian values. I believe the real intent of the Constitution was to give people the right to chose the Christian-based institution they wanted to attend (in other words, a Christian religion which was outside the Church of England, ie., Puritans). I am of the opinion that the writers of the constitution were not even thinking of those outside of Christiandom, ie, Islam, Hindu, atheist, etc. But that's just what I think.

I'm not sure the story on Jeff Archuleta is accurate. There may have been a dispute of some kind but it seems to have been out of proportion. It is very possible that this is a problem between the producer and Jeff. I even think it is very possible that Jeff did not realize the issue was about money when he suggested the change in lyrics.
.
As for who will win American Idol, I'm leaning toward David Cook as he has shown more versatility. However, it may serve David C. better to NOT win as he would probably do just as well without being known as the winner of a reality show. Both have already "won" just having the exposure Idol brings. I expect many of the top ten will do very well as long as they make smart decisions.

Posted at 12:54AM on May 17th 2008 by Huh?

379. Sorry about the empty space in my last post. Don't know why it happened.

Posted at 1:18AM on May 17th 2008 by Huh?

380. Did it ever cross anyone's mind that Jeff Achuleta may be trying to protect his son from people who may not share the same values as David and his family? There are many things that are accepted as "normal" to those who are not as conservative as the Archuleta's and his father has a DUTY to protect David and his interests as he is still a MINOR!

Posted at 1:19AM on May 17th 2008 by Overbearing?

381. He's American Idol's version of Australian Idol's 'devil's peanut shelf' - Anthony Callea. Except Callea always had his eyes open, 'cause he was used to having someone on his back...hehehe

Posted at 11:36PM on May 17th 2008 by the Nood

382. It's about time!!!!!

Posted at 1:41AM on May 20th 2008 by Heidi-Sue Rodriguez

383. Hahahhahha Jean Benette archuletta lost. He cant sing. The only reason why he lasted this long is because the little girl ought he was cute. His father is not going to feed and give him anymore water. Jeff is going to bet im silly. DAVID ARCHTARD YOU SUCK and im gad you lost. Thiis hwole season of IDOL sucked. I stopped watcing week ago

Posted at 10:45PM on May 21st 2008 by David archtard sucks

384. What a coincidence. Dad ruins it for sonny by forcing lyric changes, like a complete idiotski redneck. Thanks Dad. I'm sure its only a coincidence, just like the stripper being 'voted' off after everyone found out he was a stripper, and just like the lyric forgetters going home after their mental malfunction. Can't they see the huge monitor with the lyrics scrolling by? What? You think Seacoast can remember these things to say?

Posted at 5:30PM on May 22nd 2008 by C-Ya at the tryouts

385. Nice going, jerks! First you pull thousands of hits and views by broadcasting David's homecoming live, surely making tons of money out of that, only to slam the kid and his family an hour later, REALLY PATHETIC!

Posted at 5:44PM on May 25th 2008 by Annie

386. I thought MORMON do not except GAYs ..David Achuleta is GAY is hell. You just want his money so, lets just hide the fact that he is GAY..

Posted at 11:22AM on May 27th 2008 by AI sux

387. This is story is so sad. David father is going to destroy his son career. I hope David will be strong enough one day to walk away from his father.

Posted at 3:13PM on May 31st 2008 by Joanne

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