'We have chosen not to save you': Mariah Carey wipes away a tear as Lazaro Arbos is sent home from American Idol

PUBLISHED: 23:33 EST, 11 April 2013 | UPDATED: 08:22 EST, 12 April 2013

After a slew of substandard performances chronic stutterer Lazaro Arbos has finally been voted off American Idol – leaving only five girls left in the running.

Over the last few weeks the speech-impaired ice cream scooper has served up a string of wobbly performances and been branded ‘flat’ ‘off key’ and ‘awful’ by the judges.

But time and again the voting public took pity on the adorable 21-year-old - keeping him in the running while stronger contestants were sent home.

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So emotional: Mariah Carey wiped away a tear on American Idol as they decided not to use their 'save' option

However on Thursday night, after 34 million public votes, the Florida native was left in the bottom two - alongside the talented Amber ‘legs for days’ Holcomb who Nicki Minaj adores.

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‘Every week I say Lazaro should go home and every week he stays,’ lamented music mogul Jimmy Iovine before his elimination.

Out of the competition: Lazaro Arbos was given the boot after being int he bottom two with Amber Holcomb

The right man went: Jimmy Lovine was very critical of the night's loser

The right man went: Jimmy Iovine was very critical of the night's loser

The top producer, 60, also denounced Lazaro as ‘tenth place’, despite the fact there were only six singers left.

Jimmy was also scathing about Lazaro’s dull performance last night: ‘It hit me like an Ambien milkshake…it was boring,’ he said – referring to the exceedingly strong sedative drug.

Visibly nervous Lazaro attempted to remain in the competition by singing Feeling Good, but the weary judges would not rescue him.

Lazaro Arbos sings for survival on American Idol

Sing-off: Lazaro sang Feeling Good to trying saving himself from the boot

Belting it out: But the bow tie-wearing hopeful's performance wasn't powerful enough to keep him in the competition

Unsurprisingly orphaned Texan Kree Harrison and vocal powerhouse Candice Glover were the two frontrunners at the end of the night.

Food services worker Angie Miller and ‘Southern Belle’ Janelle Arthur were also saved to sing another day.

Multi-platinum artist Kelly Clarkson dressed in glow-in-the-dark neons to perform her new single People Like Us, while the audience waved glow sticks.

Front runners: Candice Glover and Kree Harrison did the best as far as votes go

Tense moment: The remaining groups were split into three to reveal the bottom, lower and middle scores

Group song: The remaining contestants sang together at the start of the show

Before the show the ‘Idol One’ winner had spawned a mutual appreciation society with Mariah Carey via Twitter – with Kelly expressing how nervous she was about performing in front of the Queen ‘Glitter Diva’ who is her hero.

‘Tomorrow I'm performing at Idol in front of ‪@MariahCarey. Pray for me. #PleaseDearGodDontLetMeSuck :)’ she wrote.

Mariah replied soon afterwards with a compliment: ‘Come on Kelly, you're always ‪#pow! I can't wait to see you, you're so talented! x0x0.’

Standing out: Multi-platinum artist Kelly Clarkson dressed in glow-in-the-dark neons to perform

First to do it: The star is the original American Idol winner

Powerhouse vocals: Kelly belted out her new track titled People Like Us

After the Thankful singer’s performance the two vocal dynamos hugged on stage.

‘Oh my god I love her if I would have had to audition in front of Mariah I would have vomited on the stage,’ admitted Kelly as old footage from her 2001 audition tapes was shown - embarrassingly revealing her wearing a frumpy top she had fashioned herself from an old pair of jeans.

Her Idol: Kelly interacted with judge Mariah Carey who she is a huge fan of

Social networking: Kelly and Mariah were tweeting each other before the show

Idol alumni: Scotty McCreery dropped by to perform on the programme

‘All American country boy’ Scotty McCreery also dropped by to sing his yearning love song Gotta See You Tonight.

Nineteen-year-old Scotty, Idol winner from Season 10, reflected on how the show had helped him ‘achieve his dreams’.

‘But there were times when I wondered if I was really cut out for it all,’ said the humble southern teen.

Before the elimination the top six performed a medley of Burt Bacharach and Hal David hits.

While the girls aced their solos Lazaro stumbled over his words, appearing nervous and at times holding the microphone so far away from his mouth it didn’t pick up any sound.

Fiesta Football: The remaining contestants faced off in a game organised by the programme's sponsors

Go red team! Lazaro, Candice and Janelle wore Scarlet to compete

Green with envy: The opposing team scored with a giant soccer ball

To promote their sponsors, Ford Fiesta, they played a game of giant ‘Fiesta Football’ in the cars.

Footloose actor Kevin Bacon was in the audience, telling Ryan Seacrest that he would be ‘terrified’ if he had to sing in front of the panel.

‘I love watching the show because I wish I could sing like them, so much talent,’ said the JFK star, 54.

Celebrity guest: Kevin Bacon showed his support for the contestants by watching in the studio audience

Next week the five remaining females will battle it out for their place in the competition.

While the audience ‘do not seem to get’ talented Amber the judges and Jimmy are now pegging Janelle as the weakest link.

Candice is top of the pile after being venerated by the judges last night.

Weakest link: Janelle is expected to leave the TV talent show next

‘One of the best performances on any talent show, ever, ever, ever,’ Randy told her.

But Amber is Nicki’s ‘favourite girl in the competition’ with Jimmy calling her ‘the whole package.’

Whatever happens next it better be good – the twelve year old TV show has been struggling to keep it’s ratings up - hitting an all time low in March.

Looking good: Mariah, Randy, Nikki and Keith arrived in spectacular style

To see more American Idol videos click here

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Hey, idiots---Lazaro can't wear his Speech-Easy helping earpieces on stage, where he has to wear in-ear monitors. Have fun tearing apart the girls now! - WinkyD3, BethlehemPAUSA, 12/4/2013 16:39 He could have worn them when he was being interviewed on film. The stutter was just as bad. If he could have worn something to help him and didn't I would say he was going for the sympathy vote, wouldn't you? Oh sorry, no you wouldn't because you are the idiot that calls other people idiots.

- Trainergirl , Canada, 13/4/2013 00:49

Click to rate Rating 24

Hey, idiots---Lazaro can't wear his Speech-Easy helping earpieces on stage, where he has to wear in-ear monitors. Have fun tearing apart the girls now!

- WinkyD3 , BethlehemPAUSA, 13/4/2013 00:39

Click to rate Rating (0)

What is wrong with the votes Amber was 2nd best last night please America vote for her . Candice was amazing the no.1 I hope she wins.

- akay , tonbridge, United Kingdom, 12/4/2013 23:39

Click to rate Rating 9

I Love Kelly Clarkson soo much for her humility towards the Queen Mariah. I never liked the girl until today. Such humility. Meanwhile Mariah PLS PLS dont do this show next year. Reality shows are beneath you! I thought it was a bad idea when Simon Cowell tried to coax you for the X-factor and its a bad idea now. Leave Reality shows to desperados like the Kardashians and Snooki.

- PradaBlocbeatbenzt , London, United Kingdom, 12/4/2013 23:35

Click to rate Rating 3

Why is Mariah Carey allowed to waffle on and on. May have an amazing voice, but she can't string one whole sentence that makes any sense!

- Glojo , Sunny Park, United Kingdom, 12/4/2013 21:53

Click to rate Rating 17

I am so sorry to see him go butit was the right decision. I admire him tremendously and to get as far as he did was a wonderful achievement. He has had to learn to deal with his stutter and it cannot have been easy for him. To read some of these unkind comments made me sad. You can be proud Lazaro. Well done!.

- lynda , Naples, 12/4/2013 21:43

Click to rate Rating 9

Oh thank God he's gone. He was beginning to be horribly embarrassing. He should have gone weeks ago. he seemed a little petulant about it, but maybe he was disappointed. He must have realised though that he didn't stand a chance. Kelly Clarkson should sack her stylist if she has one. Her outfit and make up last night were just terrible. Good job she had a fab voice. She made herself look rather silly, simpering up to Maria Carey afterwards though. As for Scottie, I listen to KMPS, a Seattle Country Music station all the time. I have never once heard them play anything by Scotty, except for his toe curlingly cheesy first single. And I only heard that once. After that - nada. He has a voice that sounds like so many other country singers - it's nothing special.

- Trainergirl , Canada, 12/4/2013 20:32

Click to rate Rating 9

you ARE the weakest link. good bye!

- Paul , lansdale, United States, 12/4/2013 20:24

Click to rate Rating 13

I for one think he played up the stuttering to help him get as far as he did. He was otherwise a simpering idiot with a mediocre voice and would have never gotten on the show had he not made himself stand out. There is a case of a guy faking a stutter on America's Got Talent, so I don't put it past people who stutter when they speak but DO NOT when they sing.

- Cavendish , Morgan Hill, 12/4/2013 19:12

Click to rate Rating 7

"Why doesn't this poor guy get those special earpieces which will cure him of his stuttering? He's not just a stutterer - he's the worst I've ever heard in my life. He can cure himself. If he can sing without stuttering, then he should know he can talk without that too. Is he looking for sympathy??" - Dee Miller , Johannesburg ============== Mel Tillis was a country singer who stuttered badly but, like Lazaro, he could sing just fine. Singing utilizes different neural pathways in the brain. Unfortunately, there's no cure for the meanness which infects yours.

- gadfly , S FL, United States, 12/4/2013 19:08

Click to rate Rating 26

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