I have always said the title, AMERICAN IDOL is wrong for this competition. An IDOL is someone you completely look up to in the way they live their life and use their talents. I have often questioned this.....plus every contestant has some sad story.....a sick grandma, a disease, a sick child, a stick.
Yes, the guy has a beautiful voice but is he my IDOL, no.
Kim - 13 years ago
My dad was killed by a "first time" drunk driver. I wish that my Dad had the luxury of getting a second chance or a break. What he got instead was a body full of broken bones, a torn heart, a ripped face and a closed coffin. I still live with a broken heart. Those who make light of duis never have had the opportunity to identify the broken body of a person they loved & are simply ignorant to tragedy...
Leesa - 13 years ago
What does this have to do with his talent? His story is NOT what got him this far.. If that were the case then Chris Medina would still be there! Just like the media, just like society to rain on a kids parade... Its like negativity makes people's day! Get over it people! Yes drinking and driving is horrible! But young kids make stupid decisions often...i bet everyone on here has made a stupid choice and completely regrets it now... What? condemn the kid forever? People, the cops already gave him the punishment he deserved. Who the hell are you to judge? No one!
Willie - 13 years ago
Come on people. The kid isn't running for elected office. He is a singer for crying out loud. Anyone that is concerned about his police record is just a fool.
Gloria - 13 years ago
I believe he should be disqualified, I was hit by a drunk driver head-on while I was on my way to work at 5am. I had a broken collarbone, scratches on my face & knees and stitches on my head.
Steve - 13 years ago
Take in to consideration that this happened post-"life-altering accident". His life was ruined by a drunk driver, yet he could care less about who he might affect with his own DUI mistake, REGARDLESS of the fact that he had already experienced the hazard it brought him.
Aware and selfish. A very depressing realization that I hope affects his longevity in AI. I now consider his past accident to be pre-karma for his own DUI's :P
Bryan - 13 years ago
His story doesnt really matter at this point its all about whos the best singer not who has the saddest or most inperational story
Sharon Spataro - 13 years ago
Sometimes the emotional and physical trauma of an event can precipitate other problems that are not as easily treatable as "just say no". Self medication is not an unusual response for people that have been in life/death accidents. I'm not saying it's right; just not unusual. It's a method of coping.
jerandjan - 13 years ago
Thanks Mike, you said it for us!
Mike - 13 years ago
Umm yeah ... lesson not learned. His "inspirational" story apparently failed to inspire him.
Char - 13 years ago
Ever lose a teenage daughter to someone who "only drank a couple" and then chose to drive? The pain is FOREVER. I understand that everyone deserves a second chance but, for Katie, I could not vote for him after knowing this.
MARIE - 13 years ago
This wasn't just a "mistake," this was a very poor choice he made, which he was lucky he didn't kill himself or someone else. America is well known for being so forgiving, but we are really going to far with this. You can pretty much do anything (at least anyone in the spotlight), and get away with it, and then end up with a huge group of fans! Pretty sad. When did we stop celebrating the people that do good (or maybe who the media might think are "boring") and celebrate the people who do bad???
Julie - 13 years ago
Driving while under the influence, especially if you yourself have been a victim of a horrible accident caused by someone else's drinking while driving, is a stupid CHOICE, not simply a mistake. He, more than most, should have known better and never put other people at risk of injury or death, like the other careless driver did to him. He's a talented singer and seemingly a nice young man for the most part, but his CHOICE to drive that day while drunk is reprehensible. To those who say "give him a break", try telling that to those injured or the families of those killed by such terrible choices? You wouldn't be so easy to dismiss drunk drivers if you had suffered as a result of such actions.
really? - 13 years ago
Last time I checked, we were living in 2011. Who cares!!!!
MrHuck - 13 years ago
This story clearly shows two things:
1. How phony the Idol people are
2. How stupid the fans are to forgive anything the contestants do.
sheri - 13 years ago
He is talented, leave it at that. He's awesome! Give the guy a break.
Theresa Sweet - 13 years ago
Really, how stupid could this be. He was spared his life and then he put other people at risk. Yes, we all make mistake but this kid is really dumb.
Gloria - 13 years ago
Karen...Do you know Stefano? How do you know he has driven many times under the influence?
I was once arrested for "drinking in public" Cost me a lot....my crime? Leaving a nightclub with the rest of my one beer in a "to go" cup....stepping off the porch and getting arrested. I was not drunk, would not even have been driving, yet the police randomly arrested 3 of us. So really, don't judge until you know not only the "whole" story, but also the "true story"
Smallz77 - 13 years ago
Wow, I thought this was USWeekly's website...they made it sound like he got the DUI yesterday.
People make mistakes and no one is perfect. Now, if he becomes a repeat offender, then we'll have something to worry about.
The article does not state his BAC - it could've been 0.08% or even lower...not sure about ya'll , but 0.08% for me is approx 2-3 beers and at that point I am fully in control of all of my faculties.
Do not judge for which you know nothing about.
Mike - 13 years ago
First off Stefano never mentioned in any AI interviews that he was hit by a drunk driver. It changed his life because he had to come back from not being able to walk, use his hands and arms, and now he must go through rigorous PT and have metal plates in screws in his body.
Lastly, a DUI Arrest does not mean he was actually found guilty for it. You will all soon find out he was not even found guilty of DUI. Thanks for misleading everyone once again!
DaveRB - 13 years ago
Oh big deal, give the guy a break and let him have his 15 minutes of fame, perhaps longer. We have all made big mistakes, including myself, and still do. I for one think the laws are becoming too restrictive in any case.
Karen Dodge - 13 years ago
The reality is this young man has driven many more times under the influence and this is an indicator that he may have a drinking problem . . .when arrested for a DUI, it's not your first time . . .I would suspect he will have a hard time with being a real celebrity
analiese bannister - 13 years ago
He sucks anyway, the judges should not have given him the wild card spot.
jack law - 13 years ago
This is not "NEWS". This is the bull $hit that turned me off to the other networks and brought me to Fox to begin with. Fall in line with the rest of the a $$ holes Fox. Dissapointing to say the least.
Gloria - 13 years ago
Give the kid a break, recovering/survivor....he is 22...
Those of you judging him....I will bet at least 75% of you have done SOMETHING morally reprehensible....we have all made mistakes.
jerry...I like how you said it best....
Lin - 13 years ago
Stefano had to know this would come out. There are no secrets any more. I am guessing the reason he was drinking, or so he will say, is to cut the pain from the earlier, life-threatening accident. Along with that his pain pills will have caused the alcohol to work faster and cause more drunkeness. That'll be his story and he'll stick to it.
Elizabeth - 13 years ago
Everyone knows its not right to drink and drive OR smoke the illegal stuff. Tell me you haven't done it. Everyone deserves a second chance. I for one have never even smoked a cigarette of any kind, but in the past I have had a couple of drinks and drove, I would never do it again. I think this kid has learned his lesson. If I had a child killed by a drunk driver, I would probably feel different. Only God can judge, people seem to forget that. Give the kid a break.
Jerry - 13 years ago
He who has not sinned, cast the first stone. Too judgemental, let the guy sing, he is talented and is a young person that probably learned a good lesson when he was charged. Wish everyone would quit trying to "dig up dirt" on others and try to discredit folks. Get a life!!!!
S. Smith - 13 years ago
My son was killed in 2005 by a drunk driver, so yes, this colors my view of this young man. Anyone/everyone who drives under the influence of drugs or alcohol KNOWS that it is illegal before they get behind the wheel to drive. Therefore, it isn't a "mistake", it is a conscious "CHOICE". So called "Mistakes" still ruin lives forever.
Rob - 13 years ago
AI isn't a "moral competition", it's a "talent competition". I get that. Personally, I think he is a moral guy, and unquestionably a talented one too. He should do well on AI. That being said - his dramatic story of survival, citing a 'drunk driver' as the cause of his near-death experience, arguably influenced judges and voters in his favor. His ommission of his own DUI episode, subsequent to his own trauma, cheapens his story. Perhaps that revelation (on the heels of citing the 'drunk driver' incident that nearly killed him) might have been important to judges and fans early on as well? Everyone surely would have hoped that the other guy's bad example would have detered him from making his own lousy decision of endangering the lives of others on the roadway. We all make mistakes - I don't judge the guy for his mistake; my concern is about his credibility in 'telling his story'. None the less, I wish him well.
recovering/survivor - 13 years ago
I think this is just the tip of the iceburg. I wonder how many time he didn't get caught
Joy - 13 years ago
We all have done something stupid in our lifetime. Give this kid a break. He deserves to be on AI and this shouldn't effect how people vote on his talent. I'm sure he is COMPLETELY SORRY for the DUI and I'm sure he has LEARNED from his mistake.
Jan - 13 years ago
He'll fit right in with the entertainment industry...between Charlie Sheen, Robert Downey, Jr. and all the rockstars out there..hello, Steven Tyler...he'll feel right at home..
I have always said the title, AMERICAN IDOL is wrong for this competition. An IDOL is someone you completely look up to in the way they live their life and use their talents. I have often questioned this.....plus every contestant has some sad story.....a sick grandma, a disease, a sick child, a stick.
Yes, the guy has a beautiful voice but is he my IDOL, no.
My dad was killed by a "first time" drunk driver. I wish that my Dad had the luxury of getting a second chance or a break. What he got instead was a body full of broken bones, a torn heart, a ripped face and a closed coffin. I still live with a broken heart. Those who make light of duis never have had the opportunity to identify the broken body of a person they loved & are simply ignorant to tragedy...
What does this have to do with his talent? His story is NOT what got him this far.. If that were the case then Chris Medina would still be there! Just like the media, just like society to rain on a kids parade... Its like negativity makes people's day! Get over it people! Yes drinking and driving is horrible! But young kids make stupid decisions often...i bet everyone on here has made a stupid choice and completely regrets it now... What? condemn the kid forever? People, the cops already gave him the punishment he deserved. Who the hell are you to judge? No one!
Come on people. The kid isn't running for elected office. He is a singer for crying out loud. Anyone that is concerned about his police record is just a fool.
I believe he should be disqualified, I was hit by a drunk driver head-on while I was on my way to work at 5am. I had a broken collarbone, scratches on my face & knees and stitches on my head.
Take in to consideration that this happened post-"life-altering accident". His life was ruined by a drunk driver, yet he could care less about who he might affect with his own DUI mistake, REGARDLESS of the fact that he had already experienced the hazard it brought him.
Aware and selfish. A very depressing realization that I hope affects his longevity in AI. I now consider his past accident to be pre-karma for his own DUI's :P
His story doesnt really matter at this point its all about whos the best singer not who has the saddest or most inperational story
Sometimes the emotional and physical trauma of an event can precipitate other problems that are not as easily treatable as "just say no". Self medication is not an unusual response for people that have been in life/death accidents. I'm not saying it's right; just not unusual. It's a method of coping.
Thanks Mike, you said it for us!
Umm yeah ... lesson not learned. His "inspirational" story apparently failed to inspire him.
Ever lose a teenage daughter to someone who "only drank a couple" and then chose to drive? The pain is FOREVER. I understand that everyone deserves a second chance but, for Katie, I could not vote for him after knowing this.
This wasn't just a "mistake," this was a very poor choice he made, which he was lucky he didn't kill himself or someone else. America is well known for being so forgiving, but we are really going to far with this. You can pretty much do anything (at least anyone in the spotlight), and get away with it, and then end up with a huge group of fans! Pretty sad. When did we stop celebrating the people that do good (or maybe who the media might think are "boring") and celebrate the people who do bad???
Driving while under the influence, especially if you yourself have been a victim of a horrible accident caused by someone else's drinking while driving, is a stupid CHOICE, not simply a mistake. He, more than most, should have known better and never put other people at risk of injury or death, like the other careless driver did to him. He's a talented singer and seemingly a nice young man for the most part, but his CHOICE to drive that day while drunk is reprehensible. To those who say "give him a break", try telling that to those injured or the families of those killed by such terrible choices? You wouldn't be so easy to dismiss drunk drivers if you had suffered as a result of such actions.
Last time I checked, we were living in 2011. Who cares!!!!
This story clearly shows two things:
1. How phony the Idol people are
2. How stupid the fans are to forgive anything the contestants do.
He is talented, leave it at that. He's awesome! Give the guy a break.
Really, how stupid could this be. He was spared his life and then he put other people at risk. Yes, we all make mistake but this kid is really dumb.
Karen...Do you know Stefano? How do you know he has driven many times under the influence?
I was once arrested for "drinking in public" Cost me a lot....my crime? Leaving a nightclub with the rest of my one beer in a "to go" cup....stepping off the porch and getting arrested. I was not drunk, would not even have been driving, yet the police randomly arrested 3 of us. So really, don't judge until you know not only the "whole" story, but also the "true story"
Wow, I thought this was USWeekly's website...they made it sound like he got the DUI yesterday.
People make mistakes and no one is perfect. Now, if he becomes a repeat offender, then we'll have something to worry about.
The article does not state his BAC - it could've been 0.08% or even lower...not sure about ya'll , but 0.08% for me is approx 2-3 beers and at that point I am fully in control of all of my faculties.
Do not judge for which you know nothing about.
First off Stefano never mentioned in any AI interviews that he was hit by a drunk driver. It changed his life because he had to come back from not being able to walk, use his hands and arms, and now he must go through rigorous PT and have metal plates in screws in his body.
Lastly, a DUI Arrest does not mean he was actually found guilty for it. You will all soon find out he was not even found guilty of DUI. Thanks for misleading everyone once again!
Oh big deal, give the guy a break and let him have his 15 minutes of fame, perhaps longer. We have all made big mistakes, including myself, and still do. I for one think the laws are becoming too restrictive in any case.
The reality is this young man has driven many more times under the influence and this is an indicator that he may have a drinking problem . . .when arrested for a DUI, it's not your first time . . .I would suspect he will have a hard time with being a real celebrity
He sucks anyway, the judges should not have given him the wild card spot.
This is not "NEWS". This is the bull $hit that turned me off to the other networks and brought me to Fox to begin with. Fall in line with the rest of the a $$ holes Fox. Dissapointing to say the least.
Give the kid a break, recovering/survivor....he is 22...
Those of you judging him....I will bet at least 75% of you have done SOMETHING morally reprehensible....we have all made mistakes.
jerry...I like how you said it best....
Stefano had to know this would come out. There are no secrets any more. I am guessing the reason he was drinking, or so he will say, is to cut the pain from the earlier, life-threatening accident. Along with that his pain pills will have caused the alcohol to work faster and cause more drunkeness. That'll be his story and he'll stick to it.
Everyone knows its not right to drink and drive OR smoke the illegal stuff. Tell me you haven't done it. Everyone deserves a second chance. I for one have never even smoked a cigarette of any kind, but in the past I have had a couple of drinks and drove, I would never do it again. I think this kid has learned his lesson. If I had a child killed by a drunk driver, I would probably feel different. Only God can judge, people seem to forget that. Give the kid a break.
He who has not sinned, cast the first stone. Too judgemental, let the guy sing, he is talented and is a young person that probably learned a good lesson when he was charged. Wish everyone would quit trying to "dig up dirt" on others and try to discredit folks. Get a life!!!!
My son was killed in 2005 by a drunk driver, so yes, this colors my view of this young man. Anyone/everyone who drives under the influence of drugs or alcohol KNOWS that it is illegal before they get behind the wheel to drive. Therefore, it isn't a "mistake", it is a conscious "CHOICE". So called "Mistakes" still ruin lives forever.
AI isn't a "moral competition", it's a "talent competition". I get that. Personally, I think he is a moral guy, and unquestionably a talented one too. He should do well on AI. That being said - his dramatic story of survival, citing a 'drunk driver' as the cause of his near-death experience, arguably influenced judges and voters in his favor. His ommission of his own DUI episode, subsequent to his own trauma, cheapens his story. Perhaps that revelation (on the heels of citing the 'drunk driver' incident that nearly killed him) might have been important to judges and fans early on as well? Everyone surely would have hoped that the other guy's bad example would have detered him from making his own lousy decision of endangering the lives of others on the roadway. We all make mistakes - I don't judge the guy for his mistake; my concern is about his credibility in 'telling his story'. None the less, I wish him well.
I think this is just the tip of the iceburg. I wonder how many time he didn't get caught
We all have done something stupid in our lifetime. Give this kid a break. He deserves to be on AI and this shouldn't effect how people vote on his talent. I'm sure he is COMPLETELY SORRY for the DUI and I'm sure he has LEARNED from his mistake.
He'll fit right in with the entertainment industry...between Charlie Sheen, Robert Downey, Jr. and all the rockstars out there..hello, Steven Tyler...he'll feel right at home..