So why did singer Anthony Riley leave The Voice show? One of team Pharell’s contestant Anthony Riley was not seen in tonight’s episode of the knockout round. Pharell mentioned during the episode that Anthony Riley had to leave the show for personal reasons and was out from the competition.
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The absence of Riley had forced Pharell to have a trio performance tonight, the first time ever on The Voice.
Unconfirmed reports have it that Riley refused to be paired up with another team member.
Below was Riley’s last tweet posted on the 10the of March. It was about Mumia Abu Jamal.
I dedicate my Battle Round Victory to Mumia Abu Jamal and political prisoners everywhere. #Free Mumia: http://t.co/3Gyt6oAFQj via @YouTube
— Anthony Riley (@iamanthonyriley) March 11, 2015
Who is Mumia Abu Jamal? He is a former activist and journalist who was convicted and sentenced to death on July 3, 1982, for the December 1981 murder of Philadelphia police officer Daniel Faulkner. Abu-Jamal was removed from death row in January 2012.
About Anthony Riley
Anthony and his siblings were raised by their grandmother in West Philadelphia. Eventually Anthony moved in with his dad and discovered they both shared the same dream of becoming entertainers. His dad took him to a local train station and Anthony started street performing six days a week. Anthony needs The Voice to help him get off the streets and onto a stage where he can share his music with the world.
Here is his audition:
Update: The singer released the following statement to the NBC Affiliate out of Steubenville OH/Wheeling WV: “Unfortunately, I will be unable to continue my journey on ‘The Voice’ for season 8 due to medical reasons. Any other rumors are just that.”
We may never know the real reason for him leaving the show so abruptly, but it does actually seem to be for deeply “personal” reasons & not petty ones. It’s a pity to lose one of the best talents from the show but I hope all will be well. I also really appreciate the fact that he publicly showed his support for all political prisoners like Mumia.
So … its debated that he left for either medical, personal, or performance conflict reasons. Is anyone else going to point out the elephant in the room??? It was after his battle round victory that he dedicated his win to imprisoned “political activists” but he only mentions Jumia Mumal by name. This a man that no matter how much you church it up, he is convicted, by a jury of his peers mind you, of killing a cop. Anthony is a phenomenal singer/performer, but I think his mouth was also the source his problems as well.