Dane Cook harassed by “American Idol” contestant
Hollywoodnews.com: Stand-up comedian Dane Cook, who delighted “American Idol” viewers with his crooning ability on the finale, is being threatened by Ian Benardo, a one-time hopeful from the TV show.
Benardo, a flamboyant diva from a few seasons ago, interrupted Cook’s act by grabbing the microphone away from him and “doing a Kanye” per Page Six.
Cook, who has a huge internet following, tweeted “Weirdo hijacked the song. Just glad he didn’t hit me in the face w/the mic or American Idol would b American Beatdown.”
Benardo told Page Six, “After the show, Dane Cook called me all kinds of names. His publicist followed me out and kept calling me a stupid freak and that I’d [bleeped] his client and I belong in hell. Then Cook went on Twitter and called me a weirdo. I was born in Brooklyn and raised in The Bronx. Where I come from we don’t tweet about it, we do it. If he wants an American Beatdown he should come and face me in a boxing ring. I will beat him down.”
Benardo bombed with “Idol” judges when he auditioned with his spoken New York-accented rendition of the song “Gloria.” He never made it to any competitive stage in the music competition.
