After reportedly driving his vehicle into a building and killing a guy, the 17-year-old former ‘American Idol’ hopeful was arrested and charged with felony DUI.
Caleb Kennedy, who was a contestant on American Idol in 2021, was arrested and charged with felony DUI on Feb. 8 after allegedly ramming his truck into a building in South Carolina, killing one guy inside. Caleb Andrew Kennedy’s vehicle crashed into a workshop behind a property at 12:33 p.m. on the 200 block of W. Murph Road, roughly 3 miles south of Pacolet, according to a statement from the Pacolet, South Carolina Fire Station “Larry Duane Parris, a 54-year-old victim within the workplace, was taken to the hospital and ultimately died from his injuries.”
Caleb was a Top 5 finalist on American Idol in May 2021 when he announced his departure from the competition following the release of a controversial video of him online. “Hey y’all, this is going to be a bit of a shock, but I am no longer going to be on American Idol,” Caleb tweeted. ” A video appeared on the internet that depicted behaviours that were not intended to be taken in any way.” I was younger and did not consider the consequences of my conduct, but that is no excuse.”
Caleb was apparently seen with a companion wearing what seemed to be a Ku Klux Klan hood in the video in question. “I want to apologize to all my fans and everyone who I have let down,” Caleb tweeted at the time. “I’ll be taking a break from social media to better myself, but I understand that this has hurt and disappointed a lot of people, and that it has caused people to lose faith in me.” Please accept my heartfelt apologies! I hope that one day I will be able to reclaim your trust and earn your respect!”
Caleb’s mother, Anita Guy, claims the video was taken when he was 12 years old. “I detest this has happened and how Caleb is being depicted by others online,” she told the Herald-Journal. Caleb took this video after watching ‘The Strangers: Prey at Night,’ and they were imitating the characters. Although it has nothing to do with the Ku Klux Klan, I see how it appears. Caleb is devoid of any racial tendencies. He likes people of all races and has friends of all races.”
