Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Did American Idol Slander The Bronx Last Night?
By
Garth Johnston
Published Jan 20, 2011
Modified Jan 20, 2011
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Garth Johnston
Published Jan 20, 2011
Modified Jan 20, 2011
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
American Idol returned last night to just ok ratings but it still managed to piss off Bronx beep Ruben Diaz, Jr.. Let us explain: last night's audition episode—featuring Bronx native/new Idol host J.Lo!— included a segment about 16-year-old Bronx-native Travis Orlando, a boy who apparently has had a rough childhood that included time in shelter. He describes his formative years as "tough," surrounded by "gangs, drugs, violence," and continues later to boast his neighborhood has "robberies, killings, anything you can possibly imagine goes on here." Enter an angry Diaz!
The borough president put the following statement on his website:
I am thoroughly disgusted with the treatment of the Bronx on American Idol last night. Rather than focus on the amazing revitalization the Bronx has seen over the past three decades, the producers of the show chose instead to highlight the negative stereotypes that have plagued our borough for years. The Bronx is the proud home of 1.4 million people, and over the past 30 years we have seen a dramatic drop in crime, incredible new business activity and the development of amazing new infrastructure. The portrayal of the Bronx by the producers of American Idol in such an extremely negative light is not only shameful, it does not accurately represent how far the Bronx has come.
Which is all well and good, except that the contestant on the show last night wasn't talking about the whole borough, he was talking about his experience of it. Though, yeah, they probably could have done with a few less shots of pay-phone receivers hanging in the wind and trash on the streets. Here's the clip in question, do you think American Idol producers went too far?
Tagged
American Idol
Bronx Borough President
ruben diaz jr.
the bronx
Travis Orlando
Garth Johnston
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
NY Archdiocese will soon settle $800M clergy sexual abuse claims
The deal would compensate over 1,300 alleged victims and help the church avoid bankruptcy.
By
Arya Sundaram
Published Oct 24, 2026 at 6:31 p.m. ET
Chinatown residents file lawsuit against after-hours construction on new 'mega jail'
Residents cite sleep disruption and dust-induced illness from nearly ‘round the clock’ construction.
By
Arya Sundaram
News
Chinatown residents file lawsuit against after-hours construction on new 'mega jail'
Residents cite sleep disruption and dust-induced illness from nearly ‘round the clock’ construction.
By
Arya Sundaram
Peepapalooza: NYC is heading to the Hudson Valley to watch the leaves
By
Elizabeth Shwe
and
Sean Carlson
NYPD: Officer shot, injured knife-wielding woman during ‘chaotic’ night at Queens home
By
Ryan Kost
3 slates vying to run Jersey City school board as city stares down major tax hikes
By
Michael Sol Warren
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .