Frenchie Davis, the plus-size, neon-haired, full-voiced ''American Idol'' semifinalist, has been removed from competition, USA Today reports, because she has acknowledged to the producers that she worked for a porn website four years ago. Fox says she'll be replaced during the Feb. 25 episode.
There was no official word from Fox as to the nature of the 23-year-old singer's work for the unnamed website, or why it was grounds for dismissal when Nikki McKibbin, who acknowledged having worked in strip clubs, was allowed to remain in last year's contest and ended up in the top three. A Fox spokesperson told EW.com that the 23-year-old singer had not violated the show's eligibility requirements, but noted that the rules allow the producers to remove contestants at their discretion. Meanwhile, all traces of her have already been expunged from the ''Idol'' website.