CNN has reached out to ABC, the network on which “American Idol” airs, for comment.
Kennedy, 16, confirmed his exit from the reality singing competition in a statement posted on his verified Instagram account Wednesday.
“Hey y’all, this is gonna be a bit of a surprise, but I am no longer gonna be on American Idol,” the statement read. “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’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,” he added. “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,” his statement concluded.
“This video was taken after Caleb had watched the movie ‘The Strangers: Prey at Night’ and they were imitating those characters,” she reportedly told the publication. “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.”