Corey Clark – Why Are You Still Around?

Corey Clark, why are you still around? As I read stories about you screwing up yet again, I have to wonder what your next plan of attack is. Will this be what it takes for you to finally quietly go away? Or will you be making more outlandish claims out of desperation to recapture what you could have had?

Yesterday, the news came in that Season's 2's American Idol finalist Corey Clark was arrested yet again. Again! They caught him on an existing warrant from Arizona as he had failed to appear in court for a charge of violating a court order and trespassing. But that wasn't all, they also caught him this time on new drug charges, as he was in possession of a "controlled substance" as well as drug paraphernalia.

This guy at one time was a finalist on what is now the number one show in the country every winter and spring. While I personally never saw his value as an entertainer, there were many out there, including judge Paula Abdul, that were very taken in by him. He became the third person booted from the show without being voted out. A male finalist was booted before the finals during then first season, and in Clark's season, French Davis was booted before the semi-finals, despite being an early favorite, for appearing on semi-nude on a website. She had agreed to appear on the website to make money to afford her college education.

Clark's offense? Getting in a fight and becoming physically abusive with his sister. This isn't kids arguing over the remote control, this was something Clark was actually arrested for. He contends he had disclosed his information to American Idol, and they contend they never knew about it at all until thesmokinggun.com splashed him across their pages. Regardless, for a show that was an automatic hit and had made household names of Kelly Clarkson and Simon Cowell, after the news was out, there was no way they could keep Clark on the show.

He was booted from the show and was none too happy about it. Yet, he didn't quietly go away, which he should have. He decided to follow his dreams of having a singing career, and there's nothing wrong with that, but it was the way he went about it. It was almost as if he was saying, I can't stand on my talent alone, and American Idol got rid of me before I could use them sufficiently, so I'm going to use them anyway. He recorded an album, and just when it was about to be released, he made the startling statement to all who would listen, that Paula Abdul had pursued him during the show, and while he was still a contestant, she would bring him over to her home for sexual trysts, promising she would help him in his career.

Another of the singers on Clark's season, Clay Aiken, did everything but call Clark a liar. Aiken said security around them as they lived in a house together while on the show was so tight, and they were kept so busy at all times, that there really wasn't much of a chance that his story could have happened. Nor did he ever see anything that would have suggested to him that there was something going on between Clark and Abdul.

Clark's album was of course not a success, and soon he made headlines again after his initial arrest in Arizona. We didn't hear from him again until now, when he's been taken in for the outstanding warrant as well as additional new charges involving drugs. He's gone from a finalist on the #1 television show to a criminal, and does nothing to improve our view of him.

It's understandable that he made the first mistake with his sister when he was young, but after coming so close to fame, he should have put all that behind and fought like hell for the career he thought he deserved. Instead, it seemed he wanted to take the easy way out, getting famous by claiming to be Paula Abdul's conquest. It's time for his 15 minutes to finally be over and for him to realize there probably isn't going to be any comeback. He's had enough chances.