Two Hispanics, both of Puerto Rican descent, advanced to the next round of American Idol this week.
One of them is Jorge Nunez, who vowed Thursday night to sing more lyrics in Spanish, despite some judges' advice to minimize his accent, Reuters reported.
The other is the show's most controversial contestant, 24-year-old Tatiana Del Toro, who, to the chagrin of some Idol watchers, won a wildcard slot to the next round. Del Toro has been panned by critics for being melodramatic and annoying.
Nunez, a 21-year-old college student, on Thursday night advanced to the Top 12 segment of the show, and later told reporters that he was thrilled to receive phone calls of support from Marc Anthony and Jennifer Lopez (the parents of both pop superstars were born in Puerto Rico).
Encouraged by their support, he said he plans to sing some versus in his native tongue, saying his voice sounds best that way.
Early on, Nunez was advised by judges to lose the thick Spanish accent. But judge Simon Cowell disagreed, saying it could open doors.
Del Toro, meanwhile, has been blasted in the media, often for exhibiting behavior that many consider annoying, such as by refusing to stop singing when asked, or laughing uncontrollably at inappropriate times.
