From 'American Idol' to Prison: Watch The Story of Antonella Barba
You may remember Antonella Barba from her appearance on season six of American Idol when she made it into the Top 16. Around the same time, she received a lot of media attention when some NSFW photographs of her appeared online. Antonella was eventually arrested for allegedly trying to distribute heroin. Where is she now?
Antonella's Time on 'Idol'
Antonella Barba first came into the public eye when she auditioned for American Idol in 2007. Right before the top 12 was selected, however, she was eliminated amid some scandalous photos surfaced online. These included her posing in a wet t-shirt in the fountain of the World War II Memorial in Washington, DC, which most criticized as disrespectful.
After Idol, she returned to college to earn her architecture degree. Things were looking up for Antonella then, but she found herself in trouble again in 2011, this time for shoplifting in NYC.
Antonella Arrested for Heroin Possession with Intent to Distribute
In 2018, Antonella was arrested for possession and conspiring to distribute 830 grams (nearly 2 pounds) of fentanyl. According to the Norfolk Sheriff's Office, Antonella faced a felony charge of heroin distribution of 100g or more.
At the time of arrest, Antonella was traveling through Hampton Roads to Florida. Court documents also revealed that she had a pending charge of Possession of Marijuana in Kansas at the same time.
Although Antonella originally pleaded not guilty to the charges, she eventually changed her plea to guilty and was sentenced to prison for 45 months. Her lawyers said she was "devastated" that she didn't perform better on Idol, which lead to her actions.
Now, at the end of her sentence, Antonella is working on a tell-all book and said she's written some of her best songs while behind bars. We can't wait to see what's inside that book!
Edit: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated that Antonella was arrested for possession and conspiring to distribute 400 grams of fentanyl.
Arrogant Contestant Sings Her Way Out of a Fight on 'X Factor'
American IdolAntonella Barbaarrested