The Truth of Why David Hernandez Got Voted Off Idol

Last week David Hernandez was voted off American Idol, and there has been some speculation in the media that the whole male stripper scandal did him. He was on the Today show this morning and Meredith Viera asked him if he thought he old job at Dick’s had something to do with him being out of the running for the title of American Idol. He essentially said the safe thing; that he thought that was America was “bigger” than to vote him off because of something like his job (or his speculated sexual preference).

The truth is that he didn’t do a great job on “I Saw Her Standing There” last week. A bigger truth is that he was not the only one to do a mediocre job; plenty of good singers give bad performances and still live to see another week, especially this early in the competition. For that matter, plenty of bad singers give bad performances and keep coming back, week after week. Cases in point: Sanjaya, John Stevens and Jon Peter Lewis.

The most important truth, is actually the real reason that people get voted for in A.I., especially in the early stages, and frankly, I really don’t think it’s all on the guys at VotefortheWorst.com. Actually, if those guys are taking the time to vote that much, they really need to get their lives together. The truth is that adolescent girls are power delegates of the American Idol voting system. It’s the same demographic for which boy bands have been created for decades. Who else is going to vote for someone over and over with tireless zeal (and again, I say if you are an adult who is calling in like a maniac: Get your life together.)?

The thing that motivates young girls to obsess over their favorite boy band singer or American Idol, regardless of their actual talent, is the irrational fantasy that this “cute” guy could possibly be their boyfriend if the stars ever aligned in their favor. All of you women who were like this when they were kids remember how goofy you were. And if you have a daughter at home who acts like this, you can attest to this also.

So, my truth is that David Hernandez, who was seen by many three weeks ago as someone who would go far this season, did fall victim to the recent scandal. But not because he was a stripper, but because he was stripper at a male strip club. And it’s not about a bunch of homophobic voters; it’s about a bunch of girls who could no longer fantasize about one day meeting him and becoming his girlfriend. No sense in kissing his picture every night before you go to bed now. Why keep calling to vote someone through when you know that they wouldn’t be interested in you at all?

I’m sure David Hernandez will have a career in music; he mentioned on Today that he’s gotten offers already. And maybe it’s better that he will have a career that he will actually have creative control of, instead of one that is chosen for you by people who sign you based on the results of big popularity contest. It seems that it doesn’t always end in a successful recording career anyway.