I spent last night on the red carpet at the Playboy Mansion for the party celebrating the season three premiere of the E! channel's, THE GIRLS NEXT DOOR and the series premiere of PARADISE CITY, executive produced by Ryan Seacrest. Arriving late, after coming from taping AMERICAN IDOL (and I'm guessing a quick dinner) Ryan brought along Randy Jackson and Simon Cowell and I asked them whether or not they had seen the photos of Antonella that had been leaked on the internet. At first Randy joked, " Who's Antonella?" but then Simon got very serious when I showed him several of the photos in question, "You know what, whoever sold those is despicable. I really mean that. It's despicable. That is private property. Out of order. Honestly. It's repulsive."
As had been reported on Monday, the most graphic photos of Antonella performing oral sex were a hoax and absolutely were not her according her best friend, Amanda Coluccio. Coluccio who had auditioned with Antonella and was dropped during the Hollywood rounds admitted to the New Jersey Star Ledger that the other photos of Antonella in suggestive scantily clad poses were her.
The photos were reportedly taken for a calendar she made for an ex-boyfriend, a lacrosse player at the Catholic University of America where Antonella is a student. It had been widely reported that the ex-boyfriend, who has yet to be ID'd, may be the one who released the photos. However, this morning I spoke to a close friend of Antonella's from high school and college who told me that she does not believe it was the ex-boyfriend. As for who did leak the photos she says, "I wish I knew." Everyone is still trying to figure that one out.
When I spoke to Simon outside the party during a smoke break (him, not me) he told me he hoped the culprit would be identified soon. Randy expressed the same sentiment when I spoke to him briefly inside the party. He had not spoken to Antonella telling me they have little to no contact with the contestants other than the show tapings. I expressed my sorrow for even having to ask such questions to both Randy and Simon . Simon told me he was happy he got to address it and besides he loves the controversy, that it was good for the show and joked there were probably a lot more coming.
Seeing how I was at the Playboy Mansion, I felt it was an appropriate venue to get Hugh Hefner's take on the matter. After showing him the photos he remarked, "She really looks sexy here." I asked if he would consider making Antonella an offer to pose for Playboy should she be voted off AMERICAN IDOL early. His answer, "Very real possibility. Yes, absolutely"
Also at the party was season four runner up, Bo Bice, who dealt with his own Idol controversy during season four. It was revealed during Top 12 rounds he had a prior arrest record on drug possession charges. He admits to being hurt by all the negative publicity he received but says, " If you don't like the business don't do it. Stay home."
Bo told me behind the scenes for every contestant the show can be tough, "Everyday is a battle for somebody in some way." He believes if Antonella was up front with the producers as he was she will be safe, "I think that's the most important thing, is if you're willing to learn from your mistakes."
Bo believes anyone on the show could have fallen victim to unflattering photos being released by so-called friends, "You learn who your friends are. Your friend base becomes a lot closer so you do, you got to watch your back."
Meanwhile, several of her former high school classmates, at Red Bank Catholic High School in New Jersey, have come out in Antonella's defense and are appalled by the negative attention this has brought to her. Eileen Gleitz, who was in choir with Antonella emailed me to say she is disappointed in how Idol has portrayed her as well as the media. She says of Antonella, "She's incredibly smart, as I had a number of honors classes with her. She was outgoing, but not one of those "popular" girls who was snobby, or, as America might think, promiscuous. She is very humble and very nice, and has a great sense of humor, especially about herself. She was by no means superficial."
Another student, Justin, told me, "In high school Antonella was one of the nicest girls I knew. She never had bad things to say about anybody and she was always there for her friends. She was a sweet genuine Jersey girl who knows exactly what she needs out of life, and that is to become the next American Idol, not to be the next Playmate of the Year."
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