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What happened to Caleb Kennedy? 'American Idol' singer, 16, exits Season 19 after shocking video surfaces

'Everyone so shocked about Caleb Kennedy but im from his hometown I've KNOWN he was like this, im just happy people are finally realizing' said a disgruntled social media user

Singing reality show 'American Idol' top-five finalist Caleb Kennedy has exited the show after an old video of him surfaced online where he was seen next to someone wearing what appears to be a Ku Klux Klan hood.

“Hey y’all, this is gonna be a bit of a surprise but I am no longer gonna be on American Idol,” the 16-year-old singer wrote in an Instagram post on Wednesday, May 12. “There was a video that surfaced on the Internet and it displayed actions that were not meant to be taken in that way. I was younger and did not think about the actions, but that’s not an excuse. I wanna say sorry to all my fans and everyone who I have let down. I’ll be taking a little time off social media to better myself, but saying that, I know this has hurt and disappointed a lot of people and made people lose respect for me. I’m so sorry! I pray that I can one day regain your trust in who I am and have your respect! Thank you for supporting me.”

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What was Caleb Kennedy's video about?

Kennedy’s mother, Anita Guy, gave a statement to MSN claiming that the video was taken when Kennedy was 12 and inspired by a movie he had seen. “I hate this has happened and how Caleb is being portrayed by people online,” Guy said. “This video was taken after Caleb had watched the movie ‘The Strangers: Prey at Night’ and they were imitating those characters. It had nothing to do with the Ku Klux Klan, but I know that’s how it looks. Caleb doesn’t have a racist bone in his body. He loves everyone and has friends of all races.”

A few hours before the video was surfaced online, Kennedy had posted an upbeat message on Instagram, thanking his followers for their support. “Hey guys! So glad to have y’all on the journey with me through #Americanidol,” he wrote. “Also really happy to be in the studio working on songs!! I love you guys so much!!” Kennedy was voted into the Top 5 of Season 19 on Sunday, May 9, alongside Chayce Beckham, Grace Kinstler, Willie Spence and Casey Bishop. 

'This kid is 16!'

One angry person tweeted in defense of the young singer: "@AmericanIdol can’t forgive @calebkennedy for sitting beside someone and growing and learning but you all can praise @chrissyteigen and forgive her for telling a 16 year old to kill herself. Clearly this world has gone mad. #todaysculturesucks #stop #boycotamericanidol." While another social media said he was waiting for this news to be out, "Everyone so shocked about caleb kennedy but im from his hometown ive KNOWN he was like this, im just happy people are finally realizing."

Defending him, another one said, "American Idol Finalist Caleb Kennedy has been asked to leave the show due to a video surfacing of him & someone dressed up in a Ku Klux Klan outfit….peace out Caleb!!!"" While another viewer of the show taking into account his young age a the time the video was shot said, "The kid is 16. Let's go back in time and pull up all the stupid crap any of you all have done as a minor. Caleb will be back."

The Ku Klux Klan also known as KKK or the Klan, is an American White supremacist terrorist hate group whose mostly targets are African Americans as well as Jews, immigrants, leftists, homosexuals, Catholics, Muslims, and atheists. The organization adopted the unsettling disguise for use in its terrorizing campaigns throughout the 20th Century. The image of a hooded Klansman has become a popular hate symbol itself around the world.