Simon Cowell talks about the scandalous photos of Idol contestant Antonella Barba

Blackberry · March 1st, 2007, 02:48 PM

Never one to hold his tongue, American Idol judge Simon Cowell has weighed in on the controversy surrounding the scandalous photos of Idol contestant Antonella Barba circulating on the Web.

"I think it's disgraceful that so-called friends would sell these pictures," he told PEOPLE at a Playboy Mansion party for the E! show The Girls Next Door and the launch of the new Ryan Seacrest-produced reality series Paradise City. "It's private property. I really, really have a problem with that – big problem." (Barba pal – and fellow auditioner – Amanda Coluccio has insisted that the most X-rated of the bunch aren't her friend.)

And Cowell has equally fiery feelings about this year's batch of competitors. "If you want to do as well as someone like Jennifer Hudson you've got to be great, and we're not seeing enough great, but they're getting better," he says. "We're going to weed out the bad ones."

Simon Speaks Out on Antonella Scandal | American Idol (Series), Simon Cowell : People.com

Wow, that girl became the next Paris Hilton over night.

greysfang · March 1st, 2007, 03:02 PM

Fucking hypocrites. I hope Frenchie sues the shit outta AI.

Mel1973 · March 1st, 2007, 03:17 PM

yeah, but Frenchie sold her own pictures, right? That's really the only difference I see - and either way is nobody's business.

Blackberry · March 1st, 2007, 03:28 PM

^ When you become (Or want to become) a celeb, your business starts to be everybody's business. Fame costs.

Icepik · March 1st, 2007, 03:37 PM

^^^ True, but the pictures of Antonella were personal. They were obviously taken by a friend/someone she trusted. Frenchie posed nude for a porn internet site. I see that as a huge difference. Frenchie didn't care to be seen naked by thousands/millions of people and get paid for it, I don't think Antonella posed, thinking the same thing.

Posing, getting paid and consenting to a picture is very different than just posing for a picture and having a so called friend post it on the internet for a laugh is very different.

Now, will the Americans please vote for anyone BUT Antonella on AI so I dont have to look at that horse faced, horrible singer any more?? Please!?

greysfang · March 1st, 2007, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Icepik

^^^ True, but the pictures of Antonella were personal. They were obviously taken by a friend/someone she trusted. Frenchie posed nude for a porn internet site. I see that as a huge difference. Frenchie didn't care to be seen naked by thousands/millions of people and get paid for it, I don't think Antonella posed, thinking the same thing.

Posing, getting paid and consenting to a picture is very different than just posing for a picture and having a so called friend post it on the internet for a laugh is very different.

Now, will the Americans please vote for anyone BUT Antonella on AI so I dont have to look at that horse faced, horrible singer any more?? Please!?

Really? So where does Paris Hilton fall into that equation?

A hoochie, is a hoochie, is a hoochie.

Mel1973 · March 1st, 2007, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Icepik

^^^ True, but the pictures of Antonella were personal. They were obviously taken by a friend/someone she trusted. Frenchie posed nude for a porn internet site. I see that as a huge difference. Frenchie didn't care to be seen naked by thousands/millions of people and get paid for it, I don't think Antonella posed, thinking the same thing.

Posing, getting paid and consenting to a picture is very different than just posing for a picture and having a so called friend post it on the internet for a laugh is very different.

Now, will the Americans please vote for anyone BUT Antonella on AI so I dont have to look at that horse faced, horrible singer any more?? Please!?

Exactly. Vast difference in the "picture-takin'", if you will. If I deliberately splash nudie photos of myself over the internet, I should pretty much expect those photos to bite me in the ass later on down the line.

Mel1973 · March 1st, 2007, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by greysfang

Really? So where does Paris Hilton fall into that equation?

A hoochie, is a hoochie, is a hoochie.

she's doing it for free for different reasons I suspect. Haven't seen the pictures of this antonello or whatever her name is though....

Icepik · March 1st, 2007, 03:49 PM

Paris Hilton doesn't fall into this ...she's not a contestant on a reality show. But, for what it's worth, I would think she would fall into the same catagory as Frenchie. She knew exactly what she was doing, is doing it for money and consents - obviously, or she wouldn't be out there the way she is.

The pictures of Antonella were not of her nude. She posed in a fountain, trying to look sexy while getting wet, she did the "American Beauty" rose thing and she posed atop a basketball in bikini bottoms/underwear/something of the like. You can easily tell friends took these very amateur pics. The pictures of the blowjob have been proven not to be her, btw.

greysfang · March 1st, 2007, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Icepik

Paris Hilton doesn't fall into this ...she's not a contestant on a reality show. But, for what it's worth, I would think she would fall into the same catagory as Frenchie. She knew exactly what she was doing, is doing it for money and consents - obviously, or she wouldn't be out there the way she is.

.

But Paris swears up and down that sex tape was for private viewing and her ex betrayed her by selling it, which we all know is bullshit. I believe the term is plausible deniability...

Again, I say, a hoochie is a hoochie. Antonella took those pics hoping to be seen and I have seen no proof that the x-rated pics aren't hers. In fact, my radio station here interviewed the ex boyfriend that put up the website (and is also shopping the mutiple sex tapes she made with him). Even tho he's an asshole, I believe him.

Icepik · March 1st, 2007, 03:58 PM

"I think it's disgraceful that so-called friends would sell these pictures" .. as quoted by Simon Cowell.

Someone other than Antonella sold these pictures - obviously, without her consent. Frenchie posed, consented and was paid for her pictures. That is the difference. I think if Antonella had sold/consented to those pics, this would have had a very different outcome...and it would have been the same outcome as Frenchie's.

greysfang · March 1st, 2007, 04:01 PM

And you seriously believe she's not going to get any money from the pics? She probably has half of them in her interview portfolio.

Icepik · March 1st, 2007, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by greysfang

And you seriously believe she's not going to get any money from the pics? She probably has half of them in her interview portfolio.

I think once she gets her ass booted off American Idol (and that night better be tonight - her and Leslie both) she probably will go that route and we'll probably see her pose for Playboy soon enough, too... but until she gets voted off, I don't think she is going to do anything to jeopardize that.

Blackberry · March 1st, 2007, 04:09 PM

Overall, she's a typical teenage girl. I mean, we all do silly stuff with our friends every now and then. I know I pose topless with my friends thought we don't picture it. I really don't understand why they're making such a big deal out of it.

Elisa · March 1st, 2007, 04:22 PM

I doubt it came as any surprise to Antonella that those pictures would eventually come to light. You play, you pay.