With news that American Idol contestant David Hernandez (I personally think Kady is the next idol) will remain in the singing contest despite reports that he used to be a nude performer at a male strip club in Phoenix, the question is whether the show itself should get rid of him, like they have done in the past, as well as how should investors treat publicly traded companies like Ricks Cabaret Int'l Inc. (NASDAQ: RICK)?

American Idol executive producer Ken Warwick told TVGuide.com he was unaware of the singer's past before the news report but that it would have made no difference. "We're never judgmental about what people do to earn a living. They've got to put food in people's mouths," he said. Historically, the way the show deals with these kind of controversies is a mixed bag. Last year, Antonella Barba appeared in provocative online photos and she remained. But Frenchie Davis, a Season 2 singer, was dropped after reports that as a 19-year-old she appeared on a website designed to appeal to men interested in underage girls.

There is an obvious difference. Neither Hernandez nor Barba ever did anything illegal. Though many viewers believe that what they have done is morally reprehensible, it is still not a crime, and why shouldn't they have an opportunity to try and change their lives.

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Investing in American Idol through strip clubs originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 05 Mar 2008 16:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.