From the NY Post:
March 14, 2005 -- "American Idol" sensation Mario Vazquez — the Bronx crooner named one of 12 finalists — mysteriously bowed out of Fox's smash-hit show yesterday, citing "personal reasons."
The sudden departure of the 28-year-old contender had fans scrambling to the Fox Web site, only to find his name and picture strangely deleted from the message boards.
Vazquez told TV Guide he quit "to take care of some personal issues with my family in New York. And with 'Idol' being a live show, it just wouldn't have worked out schedule-wise."
"I'm healthy, I'm fine. It's just a personal family thing. My family is my top priority," he told the magazine.
But Vazquez's mom, Ada, said she knew of no problem involving the family and had not idea why he left the show.
"Look at me, I'm fine, I'm still kicking," she told The Post. "I don't know his reasons, but whatever they are, I respect him for it and will be very supportive."
Semifinalist Nikko Smith, who was voted out last week, will return to the competition, taking over the vacated slot.
Smith, son of Hall of Fame shortstop Ozzie Smith, was picked because he received more votes than Travis Tucker during last week's competition.
Sources said it was Vazquez's decision to leave the show.
The news came as a bolt out of the blue, buried in an oddly worded press release announcing that Smith was back in the lineup.
The release devoted just one line to Vazquez's withdrawal for "personal reasons."
"I feel so hurt. Maybe it's something Simon did. We are always blaming Simon," Vazquez's mom said, referring to the show's blunt judge, Simon Cowell.
"I'm really angry right now. I don't know why he quit. This is the first I am hearing of it," she said, breaking into sobs.
Vazquez's brother Rich, 30, said Mario seemed upbeat when he spoke to him over the phone.
"He said, 'This is not a life-threatening situation. It's for the best reasons. But I can't talk about why.'
"I know he wanted it so bad, so it was a shock to me," Rich said. "I thought that maybe his life was in danger, but that is not the case."
Last week, Mario's fellow contestants voted the pretty-boy performer most likely to win.
This is not the first time an "Idol" contestant has left under unusual circumstances in the late stages of the competition.
Frenchie Davis, a powerhouse soprano semifinalist, was told to pack her bags last year after officials found that she had posed nude for a pornographic Web site.
Blarf. This week will be so depressing
