Drama reached an all-time high on American Idol this week as two contestants pulled themselves from the competition during the show’s high-pressure “Hollywood Week.”
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The first self-elimination came during Sunday night’s episode when Sara Beth Liebe, a mother of three from Roseville, CA exited the competition after recognizing the toll the competition was taking on her family.
“This opportunity is really rad, but this is actually going to be my last performance because my heart is at home,” Liebe said. “So, I’m going get home to my babies ― they kind of need me.”
The exit comes after Liebe addressed some speculated Mom-shaing from Perry during her audition.
The second self-elimination came during Monday night’s duets round when standout contestant, Kaya Stewart (the daughter of Eurythmics’ Dave Stewart) left her duet partner, Fire Wilmore, alone on-stage after announcing she’d be leaving after battling sickness all week.
“I have a little announcement to make,” Stewart said while taking the stage in front of judges Katy Perry, Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie right before she was set to perform Adam Lambert’s “Whataya Want From Me” along side Fire. “I got sick at the beginning of Hollywood Week and I have been trying to push myself and keep going. During this performance, I got to work with Fire and it was such a great experience.”
She continued, “She’s so talented and so incredible and we bonded so much but I realized I wasn’t able to give 100%. So, I’ve decided to not perform but Fire is going to perform and I’m really grateful that I got to be here and thank you guys but I’m not going to be performing. Me not performing today means I’m no longer going to be in the competition.”
Stewart then ran off the stage in tears, leaving her duet partner solo.
While being stranded by a partner is a nightmare for any contestant at this point in the competition, the act was especially rough for Wilmore, who previously shared abandonment issues with the judges.
“Listen, Fire, you’re not gonna be abandoned anymore,” Perry said before asking the contestants sitting in the audience, ‘Who wants to sing with Fire?’”
Contestant Jayna Elise stepped up to the plate without hesitation and offered Wilmore both emotional and vocal support as she pushed through the performance.
“I’m proud of you,” Perry told Wilmore following the emotional performance. “You’re growing, little by little... Thank you for standing up here and continuing to try.”
Perry then revealed Fire would continue through to the next round.
The dramatic moment adds to an already eventful Idol journey for Wilmore, who was given a second chance to audition. The single-mother was open about her struggles growing up in a broken home and shared she is currently providing for her and her young daughter by performing as a stripper.
She continues to fight to remain in the competition to be able to provide a better life for her and her daughter and be able to leaving dancing.
Watch Fire continue to fight for her dreams on American Idol every Sunday and Monday on ABC at 8PM ET / 7PM CT.
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