Thanks to Idolator commenter Ned Raggett for pointing us to an update on the girl who wouldn’t stop crying during last night’s American Idol. Her name’s Ashley Ferl, she’s 13, and, as the LA Times reports, she arrived at the taping–and the Idol stage–through the sheer power of her tears:
The family, I was told, obtained tickets on a website to attend a taping of “Smarter Than a 5th Grader” a day passage that included not just the taping of the show itself, but also the dress rehearsal of either “Grader” or “Idol.” The fates were kind, and the mother and daughter found their way to the “Idol” rehearsal, where Ashley’s waterworks began. Her prowess was quickly brought to the attention of “Idol” producers who summoned the clan to a ringside seat of honor at the final taping.
Her powers of speech slowly returning, Ashley revealed that while she was on stage she had been thinking that “this was the coolest thing ever.” Asked whom she was supporting in the competition she named “Sanjaya, Melinda, Gina and Jordin” as her picks, refusing to narrow her vote down to a single choice. All my journalistic powers of persuasion, cajoling, bullying and insistence that on her vote might turn the entire competition, that “Listen to reason, young Ferl, there can’t be four American Idols,” would not convince her to name a single favorite. To my every argument, she would only repeat her mantra, “All Four: Sanjaya, Melinda, Gina and Jordin.” And so the race begins in earnest, with tears at every step of the way.
Let’s just hope that Ashley’s temper tantrums don’t influence the producers any more than they have; a final four with Sanjaya and Gina would be too much to bear. (Also, no Blake? We had him pegged for a preteen idol much more than Sanjaya, who is seriously nearing Carrot Top levels of creepiness.)
Who’s That Girl? [LA Times]
Earlier: Idolator’s American Idolatry: The Little Girls Are The Only Ones Who Understand Sanjaya
[Screen grab via Entertainment Weekly]
Fat.
I think she’s crying because of child abuse.
What kind of irresponsible parents subjects a kid to American Idol, fuhgawdsake?
she isn’t retarded?
I haven’t watched it but, come on, she’s 13. I’m glad there wasn’t a broadcast camera in my face when I was her age. Kids, as a rule, are kinda spazzy. Either that or she needs/has a good agent.
I think she was crying out of horror because the singers butchered the songs so badly.
Of course she’s a Sanjaya backer.
And because she’s retarded too…
She’s really going to be crying when she finds out Sanjaya plays for the “other team”
I read on other Blogs the poor girl who owns AshleyFerl.com has gotten about 1000 calls. I never seen such lunacy! It’s like a weird Cult and pretty soon someone is going to pour the Kool-Aid!
- Amanda
i know this girl, shes a newly arrived freshman at school, shes in band…the funny thing is, She did get alot of crap about it once people recognized her, but they all wanted to get her picture, it was kinda sad but funny at the same time…and NO, she isnt retarded, she was just a really good fan who was crying tears of joy thats all…a think shes shy too, shedoesnt to be much of a talker and i noticed that on an interview she was speaking kind of funny….that must be why….