Home : American Idol : Sanjaya: Bottoming Out?

Sanjaya: Bottoming Out?

Posted Mar 19th 2007 11:42AM by TMZ Staff

Sanjaya MalakarA source tells TMZ that 17-year-old "American Idol" contestant Sanjaya Malakar's cheery smile is simply a front ... and privately, the winsome teen is actually bumming.

A source close to Sanjaya's family revealed exclusively to TMZ that the darling hula-dancer has been devastated by recent bad press he's received over his not-so-precious singing. "He's so young and so sensitive, it's hard for him to go out on that stage and not have that devastation affect his performance," said the source.

Apparently, it's not just hard on Sanjy, but on his family as well; they are trying their best to just be a strong support system for the adorable teenager as he hulas his way through this sometimes surreal experience as one of the remaining 11 American Idols. It's unlikely that Sanjaya will have to endure it much longer. He was in the bottom two last week.

Related

Articles



Tags: american idol, AmericanIdol, contestant, devastated, hula dancing, HulaDancing, media, ridicule, Sanjaya Malakar, SanjayaMalakar, singing, tv

Comments [84]
SHARE |
4ie6

Relevant Posts

Reader Comments

(Page 5 of 6) Previous 15 Comments | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | Most Recent | Next 15 Comments

61. I agree with Sandra...I like him a lot!!! The only thing for me is...he's not the best singer this season. I admit that. But I love this kid and I think he's got the sweetest smile!! You guys should leave him alone.

Posted at 6:46PM on Mar 20th 2007 by KC

62. To all you racist Sunjaya haters. Leave Sunjaya alone. He is in because America voted and if you didnt vote, that is your own fault. He is only 17. If you dont like it, dont watch the show. Put on some grandma or grandpa show. That is probably more your speed.

Posted at 3:56PM on Mar 20th 2007 by Cheryl

63. Hey. I love sanjaya. I think he is adorable. every time i read something bad about him i feel awful. Even if he gets voted off this week. He'll be back next year. HES ONLY 17!!!!

Posted at 6:42PM on Mar 22nd 2007 by lauren

64. SANJAYA IS SO HOT! I LOVE HIM! HE SHOULD BE THE NEXT AMERICAN IDOL!

Posted at 4:31PM on Mar 20th 2007 by Christina!

65. i love you sanjaya!!!!

Posted at 4:31PM on Mar 20th 2007 by Christina!

66. i love sanjaya. i think he has every reason to be where he is right now in this competition. he has talent, he can sing. he's never pitchy. PLUSS he's adorable. people just need to lay off of him. every other singer in this competition, except for LaKisha, Melinda, and Jordin, have sung pitchy at times. Sanjaya is always on tune. if he was really that bad as people are putting him out to be, he wouldn't be where he is right now, in the top 11. and if everyone hates him so much, then why are you wasting your time talking about him?! go do something more productive with your life if youre gonna be hating. kthanks.

Posted at 11:01PM on Mar 20th 2007 by Karen

67. You guys have to admit when he tried out he was very good, so we know and Paula, Simon and Randy know he can sing. Knowing that why do they have to be so mean? It's obvious he's nervous, he's young it's understandable. No, he doesn't deserve to win but he sure doesn't deserve all this negative and hurtful press. He's just the singer it's up to the public to vote him off...so who really should be getting the bad press. Having said all that I love him to death, after hearing everything bad said about him he still manages to get up there in front of thousands of people and sing.

Posted at 1:57AM on Mar 21st 2007 by Shawnna

68. please sanjaya bow out with grace your only getting votes for the worst dont you get it. you cant sing there are so many good singers there dont take it away from them.

Posted at 12:42PM on Mar 21st 2007 by maria dobish

69. sanjaya bow out you stink

Posted at 12:41PM on Mar 21st 2007 by maria dobish

70. EVERYONE KEEPS SAYING HOW YOUNG HE IS.JORDEN IS ONLY 17 BUT SHE CAN SING.MY KIDS ASK ME TO MUTE THE SOUND WHEN HE COMES ON.I THINK THAT SAYS IT ALL.WE HOPE HE GOES THISWEEK.

Posted at 1:39PM on Mar 21st 2007 by deborah

71. This is the judges fault. They should have cut him in Hollywood week while they still had control. None of them should be shocked that he is slipping through week after week. Until you get to the top 4 or 5 the weekly voting is nothing more than a popularity contest and unfortunately far too many 12 year old have cell phones and know how to use them.

Posted at 2:34PM on Mar 21st 2007 by Michele

72. Sanjaya...there are a LOT of Fanjayas honey and don't listen to these hateful people who have nothing else to do in their lives but say hurtful things about people whom they have never met. Obviously these people are not happy with their own lives. You are a great singer with a good heart and adorable smile. You were fantastic on Tuesday night singing the Kink's song. Maybe you have found your niche. Good luck...even you are going to exit AI today (I doubt you will) you will definitely be remembered by all who loved and voted for you! FANJAYA 4 ever!

Posted at 6:40PM on Mar 21st 2007 by Venus

73. The fact remains -- this is still a singing competition. I don't care how much the public likes him or how cute he smiles, he just can't sing! I'm not sure how he is doing it, but he actually seems to be getting worse each week. Sadly, some really good, talented singers are being sent home so he can remain on and smile and be cute. Sanjaya doesn't belong on that stage. It's time for him to go. This is becoming too painful to watch!!!

Posted at 9:22PM on Apr 9th 2007 by Redbones

74. Another Wednesday night and another night that we loose 'real talent'. and that little boy is still there. I have a 17 year old and we talked about Sanjaya and how paiful it is to hear him. It must be very hard for him to see all that is written and said about him in the media as well. I know Simon, Paula, and Randy, must be kicking themselves over and over for putting him though, but maybe they thought that he would be a easy out to get the show rolling.
Seeing that little girl cry last night, and then the interview with her later on proves what audience he is going to have. If he is going to play grown up games, he has to have to grit to stand up to them, but for the 'cute hair' and all, the kid really has no voice and so many good people are getting the hook everyweek because of sites begging people to vote for him. Well, pay me a couple of million and I may consider at least dialing the phone for him, but I can't vote for him, he's just too painful to hear. So hopefully we will only have one more week of Sanjaya torture to bear. Poor kid, he's so young, and I am afraid he is going to get the almost beat William Hung award. Parents take the phone away from your little girls on vote night, I'm begging you.

Posted at 1:10AM on Mar 22nd 2007 by Nighthawk

75. Yes we need them as long as that kid is on the show. It was bad enough last year when that guy with the gray hair won. He got that on his personality, not true talent. If the kid stays on, this is not a singing competition, but based only on popularity. Maybe they should limit the number of votes, so they can't speed dial his number in so fast, or change the voting so these kids can't tear down what has become a successful show. And this year, the show is actually going to try to do something to help people who really are in need of so much. It's just wrong to keep voting for the tanned kid with the hair, it's just hair, wonder if they would vote if he shaved his head?

Posted at 1:23AM on Mar 22nd 2007 by earmuffs

Previous 15 Comments | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | Most Recent | Next 15 Comments