# Frenchie Davis kicked off American Idol **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 12, 2003, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frenchie-davis-kicked-off-american-idol/154499 "2003-02-12T02:42:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2003, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frenchie-davis-kicked-off-american-idol/154499/21 "2003-02-12T16:40:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Stoid \* > > **I’m going to write to Fox and protest.** As am I. In fact, I’m considering making it a “real” protest and not just telling them I’m angry and offended, but demanding that she be reinstated to the competition or I’ll quit watching their stinkin’ show – not only for this season, but for all future seasons, as well. _And_ boycott their sponsors. I wonder if the backlash were to be big enough, if they’d actually reinstate her. ?? ---
**Author:** ![annieclaus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b5a626/32.png) [@annieclaus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/annieclaus)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2003, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frenchie-davis-kicked-off-american-idol/154499/22 "2003-02-12T16:44:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by kung fu lola \* > \*\*I guess her former employment smears the “image” American Idol wants to project, which is a safe, neutered, sexless one. Because everyone knows, sex = dirty and sexless = clean. \*\* Then why do they dress all the female contestants like hookers? ---
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2003, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frenchie-davis-kicked-off-american-idol/154499/23 "2003-02-12T16:56:23Z")
Ok, the following email has been sent… > [@](#): > > To Whom It May Concern: > > Although details are sparse at the moment, I am _outraged_ at the news that American Idol and Fox have disqualified Frenchie Davis from the competition because she allegedly “worked for” an adult website many years ago. Last year you had a contestant who was a topless dancer/stripper, and yet she was allowed to continue! I find this hypocracy utterly despicable. > > For the record, I don’t know Frenchie Davis from Adam – I was just a loyal viewer who was anxiously awaiting her performance because she completely rocked in the audition process. > > This competition is about the American PUBLIC getting to voice our opinion on who we want as our next big Pop Idol – _not_ some backstage suits afraid of “image” problems for the network. Besides, you _are_ Fox, afterall – with shows like “Who Wants To Marry A Multi-Millionaire” and “Joe Millionaire (But Maybe Not)”, since when have you cared about image?! You’ve got women whoring themselves on National Television for what they think is $50 million dollars, and somehow that’s ok, but working for an adult website is – what, exactly? – dirty? lowbrow? > > I am so offended at the moment, that, barring any further details that might make me change my mind, if I don’t see Ms. Davis reinstated to this competition, you will not only have lost a viewer but your sponsors will have lost a customer. > > Most Sincerely, > > \ ---
**Author:** ![annieclaus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b5a626/32.png) [@annieclaus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/annieclaus)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2003, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frenchie-davis-kicked-off-american-idol/154499/24 "2003-02-12T16:59:09Z")
I just read the USA TODAY story. It says another semi-finalist was kicked off “for undisclosed reasons.” FOX has a bad habit of screwing up their reality series. Remember the couple-with-a-kid on the first TEMPTATION ISLAND series? And there was a “too old” contestant on the first AMERICAN IDOL. And I think there was something hinky about the second TEMPTATION ISLAND series as well, but I don’t remember specifically what it was. I don’t know whether the production companies FOX contracts with just do a sloppy job of vetting the contestants. . . or whether FOX just maybe delights in these inconsequential scandals, but the bottom line is that FOX gets extra publicity out of it. And FOX is very greedy for publicity. . . . So, whether Frenchie violated an actual rule that all contestants were bound by remains to be seen. If you go to the USA TODAY website and read the story in their LIFE section, you will find a quickie poll on who did the best in Tuesday’s IDOL competition. So far, with something over 1800 votes cast, Ruben is the leader. . . followed immediately by “We Want Frenchie.” I think that says something! ---
**Author:** ![NailBunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecae2f/32.png) [@NailBunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NailBunny)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2003, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frenchie-davis-kicked-off-american-idol/154499/25 "2003-02-12T17:12:27Z")
**NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO**! The fuck?! This is the very first I have heard of this, and I just came from Television Without Pity! I’ll have to go scoop them. This is really sad. I liked Frenchie so much and I was really, really looking forward to seeing her next week. I’m so disappointed. Thanks for ruining my day! :mad: ---
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2003, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frenchie-davis-kicked-off-american-idol/154499/26 "2003-02-12T17:31:18Z")
[http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/frenchie1.html](http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/frenchie1.html) > [@](#): > > According to a TSG source, Davis posed topless (and appeared to be masturbating) on a web site that purported to feature naked underage girls (which, of course, would be illegal). However, at the time she posed for these photos, Davis was over 18. The Washington, D.C. native has claimed that she took the topless gig to earn money so that she could re-enroll in Howard University, where she is a theater major. In a recent interview, when asked about the proudest moment of her life, Davis said, “Other than getting back in school after not having the money and not being there for a year,” American Idol “has been the proudest moment 'cause I worked so hard.” I am SO STEAMED right now. ---
**Author:** ![Rubicon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/58f4c7/32.png) [@Rubicon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rubicon)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2003, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frenchie-davis-kicked-off-american-idol/154499/27 "2003-02-12T17:38:30Z")
I love the show, but can anyone get THAT upset about it? Also, I find myself in the uncomfortable position of defending Fox here–is it possible that she was doing something so sleazy that she even made Fox uncomfortable? Seems a bit early to vent on Fox before we know exactly what she did–the same Fox seems to be having some fun with their fetish-video finalist on Joe Millionaire. As for the “it’s because she’s obese” argument, I would point out that (1) there is no evidence as of yet to suggest that and (2) American Idol is, after all, a “pop star” contest and not a singing contest. Image is clearly part of the competition, and her size sadly will affect her commercial success–but that’s a broader societal failing, not the failing of Fox. ---
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2003, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frenchie-davis-kicked-off-american-idol/154499/28 "2003-02-12T17:43:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Rubicon \* > > **is it possible that she was doing something so sleazy that she even made Fox uncomfortable? Seems a bit early to vent on Fox before we know exactly what she did** 1. Scroll Up 2. Read Post Immediately Above Yours 3. Click Link For Verification > [@](#): > > \*\*Image is clearly part of the competition, and her size sadly will affect her commercial success… \*\* \ ---
**Author:** ![Jimson\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/838e76/32.png) [@Jimson\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jimson_Jim)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2003, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frenchie-davis-kicked-off-american-idol/154499/29 "2003-02-12T17:43:47Z")
Correct me if I’m wrong but did one of the Joe Millionaire finalists pose for bondage and foot fetish photos. If fail to see how Frenchie’s actions are any worse than the Millionaire chick or Nikki. On another note, maybe this has nothing to do with Fox and everything to do with Simon. One can’t help but remember, given the constant comments to this effect; Simon’s label will be producing the winner’s record. Due to this maybe he has some extra say in the contract with Fox for the contest and its broadcast. Given his obvious bias to the Britney Spears/Justin Timberlake look, it’s likely he felt he couldn’t successfully market Frenchie. He jumped on a chance to disqualify her in order help guarantee that the winner would be just another pop clone. This may sound somewhat odd given that many labels are now looking to create markets that are run completely contrary to the Britney Spears prepackaged plastic pop. But Simon has been the only judge to routinely criticize a contestant’s looks and dress. Or maybe I’m too cynical. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Cheatem\_Undhow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/13edae/32.png) [@Dewey\_Cheatem\_Undhow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Cheatem_Undhow)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2003, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frenchie-davis-kicked-off-american-idol/154499/30 "2003-02-12T18:00:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jimson Jim \* > **Correct me if I’m wrong but did one of the Joe Millionaire finalists pose for bondage and foot fetish photos. If fail to see how Frenchie’s actions are any worse than the Millionaire chick or Nikki.** I’m as disappointed as anyone to see Frenchie go, but this is an invalid comparison. The Millionaire chick was in some bondage and foot fetish films, but she was fully clothed. The videos were tame enough to show on the local 6:00 news. Mostly just our gal being bound and tickled. Yeah, that’s right, tickled. The videos were more than a little strange, but they weren’t particularly nasty. On the other hand, according to TSG, the website Frenchie appeared on was catering to those with a preference for underage girls (even though Frenchie herself was not underage). Frenchie’s spread included masturbation shots, which may be quite explicit. I can certainly see a pretty wide gulf between that and Joe Millionaire gal’s videos. I’d like to see Frenchie stay in the competition – this is the kind of thing that would have blown over after a few days if she had stayed – but the comparison drawn is quite inapt. ---
**Author:** ![Slacker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@Slacker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slacker)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2003, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frenchie-davis-kicked-off-american-idol/154499/31 "2003-02-12T18:06:31Z")
I hate Fox as much as the next guy (the Futurama cancellin’ bastards!), but I don’t know that I see the problem here. First, regarding the comparisons to Joe Millionaire: Was Sarah involved in any actual pornography? TSG reported that she was always clothed in these encounters. The situations seem fairly dissimilar to me. Second, if they wanted to get rid of her for image reasons, why not rig the voting after she performs? There’s no way we’d ever know the difference. Third, I’m sure Fox has their bases covered here, at least contractually. They probably either have an ethics clause of some variety, or just a general section stating that they can dump the performer at any time for any reason. ---
**Author:** ![In\_Conceivable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/4bbf92/32.png) [@In\_Conceivable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/In_Conceivable)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2003, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frenchie-davis-kicked-off-american-idol/154499/32 "2003-02-12T18:12:51Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Stoid \* > \*\*I think they couldn’t stand the fact that an obese woman was fast becoming the favorite and they found an excuse to get rid of her. > \*\* I don’t think that was why they did it. If they didn’t want an obese women on the show we never would have even gotten a chance to see Frenchie. She would have been edited out from the start rather then allowed to go to Hollywood. We never would have seen her sing for Simon, Paula and that other guy. We never would have seen any of her auditions. I liked her too and am sorry to see her go. I really doubt that her weight had anthing to do with it. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2003, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frenchie-davis-kicked-off-american-idol/154499/33 "2003-02-12T18:15:20Z")
I strongly suspect Fox and 19 Productions would rather have kept her, but sponsors demanded she be axed. I, too, have written a letter demanding she be reinstated. There’s two weeks for them to change their mind, so don’t give up. Send your letters in. ---
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2003, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frenchie-davis-kicked-off-american-idol/154499/34 "2003-02-12T18:27:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Dewey Cheatem Undhow \* > > \*\*Frenchie’s spread included masturbation shots, which may be quite explicit. \*\* Read the link again, **Dewey**. It said she was **topless** only and that she **appeared** to be masturbating. That description sounds to me more like her titties were showing and she had her hand down her pants/panties, giving the _impression_ of masturbating. While I’d agree that it’s not quite the same as the Millionaire chick’s bondage films, it’s _certainly_ comparable to last year’s AI contestant, Nikki, who was a topless dancer/stripper for a living. I guess it’s ok so long as it’s a cute, skinny White girl, but a big, Black woman’s breasts are icky? I know there’s no _evidence_ of that, but circumstantially, that’s sure how it appears to me. And whereas your contention that one can’t compare an AI contestant posing topless to a contestant on a totally different show (with different qualifiers, I’m sure) doing kinky bondage flicks, I think the comparison of one AI contestant to another is perfectly valid. P.S. For those interested, there’s an online petition going at [http://www.petitiononline.com/frenchie/petition.html](http://www.petitiononline.com/frenchie/petition.html) ---
**Author:** ![Slacker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@Slacker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slacker)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2003, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frenchie-davis-kicked-off-american-idol/154499/35 "2003-02-12T18:59:24Z")
EW says it’s not the porn that lost her the spot… it’s the fact that she had “prior representation”. [http://www.ew.com/ew/report/0,6115,421953~10~0~frenchieisbootedfrom,00.html](http://www.ew.com/ew/report/0,6115,421953~10~0~frenchieisbootedfrom,00.html) ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2003, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frenchie-davis-kicked-off-american-idol/154499/36 "2003-02-12T19:04:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by OpalCat \* > \*\*“stripping” != “rubbing your cute naked ass all over men” > > Some strippers in some places may do this, but it’s a pretty fucked up thing to say that is what stripping is. I did it for nearly 4 years and we weren’t allowed to touch the guys in any way, let alone “rub our ass all over them”. \*\* A friend of mine is a stripper, and her money is earned in lapdances. Rules in local areas vary about how they may be conducted, but some version of that is the primary source of money for the majority of strippers. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Shayna \* \*\* > As am I. In fact, I’m considering making it a “real” protest and not just telling them I’m angry and offended, but demanding that she be reinstated to the competition or I’ll quit watching their stinkin’ show – not only for this season, but for all future seasons, as well. And boycott their sponsors. > > I wonder if the backlash were to be big enough, if they’d actually reinstate her. ?? > \*\* I wrote to fox, and more importantly, I also wrote to Coca Cola, Ford, Herbal Essences, AT&T and Old Navy. If you really want her back, make sure to write to the SPONSORS. And make sure you let them know what she did and you don’t care. ---
**Author:** ![23skidoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/2/f04885/32.png) [@23skidoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/23skidoo)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2003, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frenchie-davis-kicked-off-american-idol/154499/37 "2003-02-12T19:12:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Shayna \* > \*\*While I’d agree that it’s not quite the same as the Millionaire chick’s bondage films, it’s _certainly_ comparable to last year’s AI contestant, Nikki, who was a topless dancer/stripper for a living. I think that the thing that makes Frenchie’s situation more severe is that the pictures are either on-line right now, or you can bet your butt that they will be put back on-line very shortly. The site mentioned in the Smoking Gun article still exists, and they’re bound to get a lot of traffic going there to see the pics. If there were videos on the net last year of Nikki stripping, I bet that she would’ve gotten the boot, too. ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2003, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frenchie-davis-kicked-off-american-idol/154499/38 "2003-02-12T19:14:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Slacker \* > \*\*EW says it’s not the porn that lost her the spot… it’s the fact that she had “prior representation”. > > [http://www.ew.com/ew/report/0,6115,421953~10~0~frenchieisbootedfrom,00.html](http://www.ew.com/ew/report/0,6115,421953~10~0~frenchieisbootedfrom,00.html) \*\* Read it again, it doesn’t say that. It says exactly: > [@](#): > > * * * > > The nature of Davis’ work for the unnamed website was unclear, as was how she violated ‘‘Idol’’'s eligibility rules, which state, ‘‘You are ineligible if you already have any type of talent representation or a recording contract.’’ > \*\* Which means it is “unclear how she violated”, in other words…she probably didn’t. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2003, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frenchie-davis-kicked-off-american-idol/154499/39 "2003-02-12T19:43:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Stoid \* > \*\*A friend of mine is a stripper, and her money is earned in lapdances. Rules in local areas vary about how they may be conducted, but some version of that is the primary source of money for the majority of strippers. \*\* Cite? If I have my choice of anecdotal evidence I’ll take the person who says she WAS a stripper over the person who says she knows one. Lap dancing’s illegal in many, many places, and even where it is, it’s not always the norm. ---
**Author:** ![Tars\_Tarkas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Tars\_Tarkas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tars_Tarkas)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2003, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frenchie-davis-kicked-off-american-idol/154499/40 "2003-02-12T20:30:31Z")
Uh, ~$15 from dancing, or ~$50 from a lapdance in the back room. Where do you think the big money is? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frenchie-davis-kicked-off-american-idol/154499.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frenchie-davis-kicked-off-american-idol/154499.md?page=3)