Two-Time 'American Idol' Contestant Berated By Simon Cowell Died In Hit And Run

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Samantha Agate is the Talent Guru here at Talent Recap. Her work has been featured at The Blast. Samantha graduated from Hunter College in 2019 with a degree in Media Studies and a Concentration in Journalism. When she isn't binge-watching reality television shows or binge-eating fried food, she loves hanging out with her friends and family and petting puppies.

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Alexis Cohen auditioned for American Idol twice. Both times she failed to impress the judges but certainly provided viewers with some good entertainment. After her second American Idol audition in 2009, Alexis tragically died.

Alexis Cohen Auditioned For ‘American Idol’ Twice

Alexis first auditioned for the seventh season of American Idol in Philadelphia. The artist was just 23 years old at the time when she declared that she likes to “march to the beat of a different drummer.” She was wearing sparkling glitter eyeshadow and star-shaped earrings to her audition. “I like the fact that people look at me with 12 heads,” she said before her audition. At the time, Alexis was studying to be a veterinarian.

Alexis sang “Somebody to Love” by Jefferson Airplane. “It was all a bit possessed for me,” Simon Cowell said. “I don’t think this is the route for you sweetheart.” He also suggested that perhaps Alexis should go down a country route or join a band. The judges all voted “no” which left Alexis heartbroken.

SEE ALSO: ‘AMERICAN IDOL’ CONTESTANT NIKKI MCKIBBIN TRAGICALLY PASSED AWAY — A LOOK AT HER LEGACY

“Well Simon didn’t like me and he’s a big fat bad word, very very bad words,” Alexis said when she left the room. She also called Simon “egotistical.” Simon also had some harsh words for Alexis, comparing her to Willem Dafoe who played the Green Goblin in Spider-Man. She flipped off the camera before leaving the American Idol set.

Alexis made her big return to American Idol the following season in 2009. She decided to take a kinder approach in this second audition and introduced herself to other hopefuls in the waiting room. This time she sang “Like A Prayer” by Madonna. Simon called it “utterly horrendous.” She once again flipped the bird to Simon and cursed on her way out of the audition room.

Alexis Died In A Hit And Run After Her Second Audition

In July 2009, Alexis was struck and killed by a driver in Seaside Heights, New Jersey. An autopsy report revealed that she suffered chest, head and abdominal injuries. Daniel Bark was arrested and charged with reckless driving and leaving the scene of an accident. He pleaded guilty to drunk driving and eluding police. Aggravated manslaughter and other charges were dismissed after police failed to read him his rights. According to The Daily News, he accepted a plea deal after spending 20 months in jail.

Alexis is one of the American Idol contestants that we lost over the years. Check out our tribute to some of the lives we have lost from talent competition shows and how we continue to honor their memory.

SEE ALSO: ‘THE X FACTOR’ VIRAL GIRL WHO BLASTED SIMON COWELL, FOUND DEAD AT AGE 38

Alexis’s mother Mindy Dallow said that her daughter had been walking to get something to eat at the time of the accident. Her body was found on the side of the road. A private funeral was held for Alexis in Pennsylvania which was funded by donors.

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