American Idol fan Ashley Kauffman claims she was banished from her front row seat for being “too big and too heavy” during the American Idol live show last week. The 19 year-old said she and other two friends were forced to sit five rows behind their “skinny” friends in the front row.

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Outrageous! Ashley decided to tell her real story because she was really hurt by the way she was handled by Idol people and doesn’t want the same thing to happen to anyone else. The girl had the chance to do that in an interview on Good Morning America this morning.

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American Idol denies such claims. Freemantle’s Manfred Westphal said Ashley was in a group of 6 people, who were told they had to be separated in 2 groups of three. They agreed and everyone got good seats (not front row seats!).

“Our audience coordinator explained they had 6 great seats on the floor; however, the seats were in 2 groups of 3. Ashley and 2 others in her party were seated 4 rows behind their friends, directly in camera shot, in some of the best seats in the house.”

Idol states, “At ‘American Idol,’ we always strive to assure that every audience member has the best experience possible, and these allegations are simply untrue.”

I believe Ashley is telling the truth. I can even understand the fact the stage manager had to split the group, but why was Ashley and her other 2 friends picked to leave the front row? I can even see them telling Ashley she was “too big” for a front row shot.