Question, kids: was Chris Golightly, who was disqualified from American Idol last week after contract issues, royally shafted? Was it just a matter of everything going wrong at the worst possible time? Or is it, in fact, a good thing for him? Because really, he isn't going away, and it's been almost a week since he was kicked.

I won't hide it from you guys: I don't like him. I don't like the way he trots out his back story (because if you're that good a singer, you're better off letting your talents do the talking). I did feel bad when he was disqualified, although I felt we didn't lose anything. But he hasn't disappeared: he's talking to the media, virtually pleading to be brought back, and last we heard, he's shopping around an autobiography which will outline, in part, why he shouldn't have been disqualified.
Golightly's charm offensive continued when he held a press conference. The folks over at TMZ have the whole video, where in between a couple of songs he said what we've heard from him over and over: He was under a contract before joining Idol, and renewed it in May of last year, but was released from it a month later. Thus, he shouldn't have been disqualified because he was, more or less, free to do what he had to do by the time he made it to the Top 24.

Earlier, the website got their hands on Golightly's contract, and it states that he's under the watch of his (former) manager, Lawrence Franklin, for a whole two years. Since Golightly previously stated that he didn't have any previous commitments once he made it to the semifinals. In TMZ's words, "it appears Golightly didn't keep his promise."

But remember, Golightly insists that he was released: in an earlier interview he said that there was a mix-up when Franklin, his former manager, contacted 19 Entertainment and said he was still under a contract. Franklin later said that Golightly is still under a contract, but he was willing to release him... but it was too late.

My take? Can we all just forget this happened? Chris, you may have been disqualified now, but your assertion that you cannot join again is utter tripe--Lacey Brown made it, after all. My best advice: shut up, and try again in two years. Maybe try again next year, but to be safe, hide under a rock first. Most of us will forget this ever happened, and you can have the triumphant, heroic comeback you've always wanted.

Go lightly, Chris. Go lightly.





(Image courtesy of Fox)