‘American Idol’ Winner Laine Hardy Arrested and Charged With Planting a Listening Device in Ex-Girlfriend’s Dorm Room

Laine Hardy, who won Season 17 of American Idol, was taken into custody by police on Friday after being charged with planting a listening device in his ex-girlfriend’s dorm room at Louisiana State University. 

Entertainment Weekly is reporting that a representative for LSU Police confirmed that Hardy, 21, was placed into East Baton rouge Parish Prison for “​​violation of Louisiana statue 15:1303 — Interception and Disclosure of Wire, Electronic, or Oral Communication.”

EW shared a statement from Hardy’s lawyer saying that the American Idol winner did “receive a warrant for his arrest.” The attorney also confirmed that has been and “will continue to be completely cooperative with the Louisiana State University Police Department on this matter” and he is “asking for privacy at this time.”

According to Hardy’s booking documentation, LSU police arrived at his ex-girlfriend’s dormitory, Azalea Hall, on April 7 after she and her roommate found a “device under her futon.” She originally had mistaken the device for a phone charger but identified the device to be a VR-500 Voice Activated Recorder upon further research.  

According to NBC News, she told authorities that the two had dated from “November 2021 until February.” According to LSU, Hardy has never been a student at the university. However, Hardy was raised in Livingston, LA, East of Baton Rouge, where the University is located.

‘American Idol’ winner Laine Hardy asks for privacy in a statement shared to Twitter

Following his arrest, Hardy took to social media to share that he is currently working with law enforcement and that he is asking for privacy. In the statement, he addresses “allegations” against himself but doesn’t go into specific detail. He also doesn’t deny or confirm anything about the allegations. Here is the statement Hardy shared: 

“I understand that my career has thrust me into the public spotlight, and I embrace that wholeheartedly as my entire world belongs to my music and my fans. However, due to the sensitive nature of this allegation, I humbly ask for privacy at this time. I have the utmost respect for the law and will assist in their investigation as needed moving forward.”

Hardy had reportedly been set to appear on American Idol this coming Monday for the 20th-anniversary reunion celebration. As of right now, nothing has been reported about whether that has changed and what Hardy’s future affiliation with the show will be. 

The talent show is currently in its 20th season and is airing on ABC.