Seriously, each year after the American Idol finale airs and the winner is chosen, people claim that the voting was fixed. One year it was the numbers they gave out and how it reached an adult 800 number. Another year it was people just straight claiming it was fixed and they were not counting votes correctly. This year, it is alleged that AT&T might have fixed the competition by providing phones with free text messaging and lessons in texting and casting votes to parties organized by fans of Kris Allen!!
Seriously, I know this isn’t as big as somebody fixing the presidency, but this is no joke…especially because Adam Lambert should have WON!!! (Just like Kat McPhee should have won but that isn’t the point!!). What is up with companies, especially corporate sponsors, picking sides?!
The New York Times reported that:
Representatives of AT&T helped fans of Mr. Allen at the two Arkansas events by providing instructions on how to send 10 or more text messages at the press of a single button, known as power texts. Power texts have an exponentially greater effect on voting than do single text messages or calls to the show’s toll-free phone lines. The efforts appear to run afoul of “American Idol” voting rules in two ways. The show broadcasts an on-screen statement at the end of each episode warning that blocks of votes cast using “technical enhancements” that unfairly influence the outcome of voting can be thrown out.
And the show regularly states that text voting is open only to AT&T subscribers and is subject to normal rates.
Seriously! What The Heck!!!?!?!
Congratulations, America!!! Just like Florida stole the presidency from Al Gore, Arkansas stole the title from Adam Lambert. AT&T not only helped voters in Arkansas power text but distributed phones already set up for free. One poster from arkansas absolutely confirmed that there’s no way Adam could win with what was going on in Arkansas that Tuesday night. Krisallenation site confirmed this as well where they were congratulating themselves for outsmarting the system.
How can Arkansas, with a population of only 2.8 million cast 38 million votes? Well, if AT&T can help 1 person in Arkansas put in 45,000 votes, then anything is possible. Not only that. AT&T also helped voters in Arkansas votes in different time zones. Means, votes placed from Arkansas could easily top more than 50 million but distributed as coming from other states. It’s so sad that this smeared The AI Kris Allen who he himself admits it’s Adam who deserves to be The American Idol. But never mind. Adam is The WORLD’S Idol. If only international fans could vote, there’s no doubt ADAM wins by a landslide.
It’s better that Adam ends up as runner up than be a questionable winner all your life. it’s a pity it had to happen to Kris.