Idol Scandal: Pal Says X-Rated Photos Aren't Antonella
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Barba and Coluccio on Idol Photo by: |
But now there's a new plot twist to the tale: Her best friend, Amanda Coluccio, tells PEOPLE that the "pornographic" photos on the Internet "are not Antonella." And Coluccio has looked. "It's not the same nose, it's not the same face," she says of the girl in the pictures.
As for the PG-13 shots (of Barba posing in various stages of undress – though never actually nude): "They were meant for one person ... her boyfriend." Coluccio, who talks to her friend daily by phone, adds that 20-year-old Barba, a Point Pleasant, N.J., native, believes those photos were stolen from her computer at Catholic University and distributed online.
Still, ever her friend's cheerleader, Coluccio – who auditioned for Idol with Barba and was cut during Hollywood week – predicts that Barba will survive the next Idol cut (this Thursday, after the Top 10 girls perform Wednesday). "She's not just there because she's pretty," says Coluccio. "She does have talent." And, for now, she still has a spot in the top 20.
According to FOX, neither the network nor show producers will comment on contestants – but if one were to be dismissed from the show, they would release a statement.
But Idol producer Nigel Lythgoe did tell EW.com last week that he was unaware of the photographs.
"We have really good background checks on everybody, and we deal with that every season," he said. "It's sad, isn't it, that your best friends are the ones that come forward with information that will go to Smoking Gun or put your photographs on the Web?"
And TMZ.com reported that Barba's name was more popular than Britney Spears on AOL Search on Thursday.
