The 18 year old from Asuza, California who auditioned in San Diego and impressed the judges with "Proud Mary" didn't make the top 12. Danny has been surrounded by rumors in the past few weeks of his flamboyant personality to a blooming relationship with fellow idol, Ramiele.
Here's a recap of what Danny had to say to Entertainment Tonight:
What's with the “Christmas Message” You Tube Clip?
“That’s something that is so, like, forever ago that I used to do. It’s almost like another person ago. That’s when I was younger. It was more like an acting thing I used to do, personalities and stuff like that. I’m actually kind of shocked that they used that one. There’s more interesting ones. [He laughs.]”
How does one handle the pressure of “scandles”?
“It’s just really weird. Doing something as simple as making an acting video — which I did, like, so many moons ago — something little like that, that was made for humor, gets blown up out of proportion and can be kind of shown as your character, and it’s not the kind of person that I am, you know what I mean? I just think it’s pretty sad that people will do that just to tear down somebody’s success. We’re all trying to be somebody in life right now, and we don’t understand why people would try to cut us down by doing things like that.”
Did the unique personality help?
“You always want to stay true to yourself. I think the other contestants were all different, but I definitely was, like, really, really different. [He laughs.] But I wasn’t trying to be different or anything, it just came naturally.”
On being a “role model” to young Idol fans, “I love the little fan letters that I’m getting from these little kids telling me that they admire me … for being myself and that I’ve showed them that you can be different and still be successful. … I really like to inspire those little kids that think that they can’t do anything because they’re different in ways, whether it’s sexuality or their race or anything like that. It’s fine to be yourself and be successful.”
How he felt standing with Chikezie
“For a moment there, I thought that I was staying. Then I got this really ugly feeling, and out of nowhere, I just felt like I was going home. Then I started crying because I didn’t want to see Ramiele’s reaction. And then, I started seeing her cry a little bit, then I started crying more. Then it was just a big ol’ cryfest!”
On being a “sassy” personality
“The way I’m on stage to Simon and Ryan are totally different to how I am with fans or with other people. That’s just my reaction — it’s like sarcasm and is just the way we play around with each other. I don’t really act like that with random people on the street. It’s just more of a sarcastic, telling-off kind of talk. I just want to make that clear: I am not like that 24/7!”
What about the song choices?
“They’re just the songs that stood out to me. I don’t know. If I could do something over again, I would definitely pick something else other than ”Jailhouse Rock,” but there’s no do-overs.”
What’s next?
“I definitely want to get into TV, be like a TV personality. Get a hosting job or something — I want to do something with my personality. I’ll do singing here or there, but I kind of want to do some TV stuff. Have a little show or something.”
