Antonella Barba, a former finalist on "American Idol," has been arrested and charged with shoplifting from a Target store in Ocean Township, New Jersey. The incident occurred on August 10 at the Seaview Square Shopping Center, where Barba allegedly concealed items valued at less than $200. Law enforcement officers were called to the scene after Barba reportedly took items into a fitting room and restroom and then attempted to leave the store.
Police apprehended Barba outside the store, where they discovered the allegedly stolen merchandise. She has pleaded not guilty to the charge and is scheduled to appear in Ocean Township Municipal Court on November 18.
Barba, 39, gained national recognition in 2007 as a contestant on "American Idol," reaching the Top 16 before her elimination. Jordin Sparks was the winner of that season.
This is not Barba's first encounter with the legal system. Her previous run-ins include a shoplifting arrest in December 2010 for allegedly stealing items worth $18.81 from Urban Outfitters in New York City, for which she was sentenced to community service. In October 2018, she was charged by federal authorities with conspiracy to distribute fentanyl. She pleaded guilty to possessing with intent to distribute over 400 grams of fentanyl and was sentenced in 2019 to nearly four years in prison. Barba was released in October 2021 and began a five-year period of supervised release.
More recently, in March 2025, Barba was arrested for domestic violence following a vehicle stop by the Point Pleasant Beach Police Department. This arrest also reportedly violated her federal supervised release from the previous drug case. According to reports, her probation officer noted in August 2022 that she had moved from her approved residence, leading to agreements for a curfew and electronic ankle monitoring.
Barba has spoken about her past legal troubles, acknowledging in 2022 on Instagram that she had made "really bad choices" and expressing gratitude for the opportunity to continue pursuing her dreams. She mentioned working on new music and a book.
During her time on "American Idol," Barba also generated controversy when photographs surfaced of her posing in a wet t-shirt in a memorial fountain. Racy photos of her were also leaked online, which she acknowledged as authentic but stated were released without her consent.