Backstage meddling has caught up with the father of American Idol finalist David Archuleta, a source says.
A person working for the TV talent contest says Archuleta’s dad has been banned from rehearsals.
The source says Jeff Archuleta was told this week by producers he can no longer join his 17-year-old son David as he prepares for the show.
The person isn’t authorized to comment publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity.
David Archuleta of Murray, Utah, is one of three contestants left as the top-rated Fox show heads toward the May 20-21 finale. But Jeff Archuleta’s backstage involvement had become a source of concern for the series, the person connected with American Idol said, adding it was a lyric change on last week’s show that pushed producers to act.
Despite a warning, Jeff Archuleta insisted on altering Stand By Me, one of two songs his son sang on Tuesday’s show. By adding a verse from Sean Kingston’s Beautiful Girls, the father incurred additional costs for American Idol, the person said.
Fox declined comment. Attempts to reach Jeff Archuleta for comment were unsuccessful.
