Showbiz

Former American Idol contestant arrested for domestic violence charge

Former American Idol contestant arrested for domestic violence charge

Former American Idol contestant Antonella Barba has reportedly been arrested on a domestic violence charge in what is her latest run-in with the law.

TMZ has reported that Barba was taken into custody during a vehicle stop by St. Pleasant Beach Police Department in New Jersey on Sunday night.

Barba, 38, had a warrant out for her arrest for a recent domestic violence charge, and the order ended up violating her federal supervised release from her previous drug case. 

She was released from EsSєx County Correctional Facility on Tuesday and will remain on home detention with electronic monitoring until April 29th, when her next court hearing is scheduled.

DailyMail.com has contacted Barbra for comment.  

Barba appeared on the singing compeтιтion program in 2007, where she sang her way into the Top 16 before being eliminated. Jordin Sparks was ultimately crowned the winner of her season.

Former American Idol contestant Antonella Barba has been arrested on a domestic violence charge in her latest run-in with the law; pictured in a 2018 mugsH๏τ from a previous arrest

Former American Idol contestant Antonella Barba has been arrested on a domestic violence charge in her latest run-in with the law; pictured in a 2018 mugsH๏τ from a previous arrest

Barba caused a stir at the time after she was pH๏τographed posing in a wet t-shirt in the fountain of the World War Two Memorial.

She also made news during her time on the show after racy pH๏τographs of her were leaked to the internet.

The pictures showed Barba in various stages of undress. She acknowledged at the time that the pH๏τos were authentic but they were leaked without her consent.

In the years since American Idol, Barba remained in the entertainment industry but never caught her big break, having made a few music albums, acted minor roles in a couple of films and appeared in the 2012 season of Fear Factor. 

However, she found herself embroiled in legal trouble over the years.

Her first brush with the law came in 2011, when she was arrested for shop-lifting in New York City and ordered to do community service.

But in 2019 she was sentenced to nearly four years behind for conspiring to distribute the highly-addictive opiate fentanyl in 2019.

The former reality star had pleaded guilty to possessing with intent to distribute more than 400 grams of fentanyl after she was busted trying to deliver nearly two pounds of the drug to a stash house in Virginia back in October 2018.

Read More American Idol star Antonella Barba blames talent show for fall from grace as she faces 10 years behind bars for drug-related offences  article image

She ended up being released from federal prison in October 2021 but is still currently on five years of supervised released, according to TMZ.

Just over a year later, however, her probation officer claimed she allegedly moved out of her approved residence in Point Pleasant. 

The officer was conducting a home visit in August 2022 when he learned she had relocated a month earlier.

Barbra subsequently agreed to adhere to a curfew and wear an electronic ankle bracelet.

The troubles continued in November 2024 after she allegedly got into a domestic violence dispute with an ex-partner identified only as ‘K.H.’ in court documents, according to TMZ.

K.H. has been accused of punching the American Idol vet in the face, her skin allegedly splitting open. The injury required sтιтches. 

Barba appeared on the singing compeтιтion program in 2007, where she sang her way into the Top 16 before being eliminated

Barba appeared on the singing compeтιтion program in 2007, where she sang her way into the Top 16 before being eliminated

Her first brush with the law came in 2011, when she was arrested for shop-lifting in New York City and ordered to do community service; pictured 2010

Her first brush with the law came in 2011, when she was arrested for shop-lifting in New York City and ordered to do community service; pictured 2010 

Barba’s probation officer claimed she was thrown out of a domestic violence shelter in January 2024 after she revealed to K.H. where the organization was, compromising it’s location.  

TMZ notes the duo allegedly had two others incidents last month, both of which got police involved.

As a result of her house arrest, she has been ordered to discontinue all contact with K.H. and family.

Barba previously admitted to making some ‘really bad choices’ following her release from prison. 

In 2022 she opened up about her fears over putting herself 'out there' again and confessed to making some 'really bad choices' several years earlier; pictured 2017

In 2022 she opened up about her fears over putting herself ‘out there’ again and confessed to making some ‘really bad choices’ several years earlier; pictured 2017

In the years since American Idol, Barba remained in the entertainment industry but never caught her big break, having made a few music albums, acted minor roles in a couple of films and appeared in the 2012 season of Fear Factor

In the years since American Idol, Barba remained in the entertainment industry but never caught her big break, having made a few music albums, acted minor roles in a couple of films and appeared in the 2012 season of Fear Factor

‘Real Talk: I’ve been scared to put myself out there. To be honest, approaching social media again, after not having access to it for 3 years, brings up a lot of anxiety,’ she wrote on Instagram in 2022.

‘A few years ago, I made some really bad choices. Choices that I regret. But I’ve learned that the only thing I can control is the choices that I make moving forward. Being on the inside taught me that life is short. 1 thing I know for sure is I’m deeply grateful to continue to be able to follow my dreams. 

‘There are a few projects I’ve been working on, including some new music & a book that I’m looking forward to sharing more about when the time is right. For now, I’ll be sharing some pH๏τos from a few recent shoots. Thanks for sticking with me (you know who you are).’

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