It was the shock heard 'round the world. Within hours of Pia Toscano's unexpected elimination on "American Idol" on Thursday night, celebrities and past "Idol" contestants took to Twitter to express their dismay at the ousting of the raven-haired singer who many had pegged as the woman who could break the recent string of male dominance on the show.
"Who are the people that vote on 'American Idol'?," tweeted Ashton Kutcher. "That's just crazy! That Pia girl is dope." Oscar and Grammy winner Jennifer Hudson, who knows a thing or two about being booted off "Idol" way before her time, was equally dumbfounded. "I can not believe they just eliminated Pia!," she wrote to her followers. "Really???? ... Long as she walked away with that voice she will be alright!! Just hate to see talent like that go!"
Some "Jersey Shore" castmembers were also upset about the results, with Sammi "Sweetheart" Giancola writing, "Nooo please tell me why Pia is in the bottom 3?!" early in the show, then following up with, "WHAT!!!!!!!!! ... wow. Upset over 'American Idol' right now." Housemate Snooki wasn't feeling it either, saying simply, " 'American Idol' ... WTF ... Pia should have won the whole thing! I'm not watchin Idol anymore. I'm with JLO on this one."
After begging fans to stay with the show following Toscano's booting, host Ryan Seacrest tweeted about what the scene was like when the cameras stopped rolling. "After we went off air no one in audience left their seat, everyone was in shock. Judges walked on stage to talk to her," he wrote. "@JLo was emotional." He used the opportunity to once again urge viewers to vote if they don't like the results of Thursday's show. "No one is EVER safe," he insisted. "Gotta vote for ur fav."
Other celebs weighed in as well, including one-season "Idol" judge Ellen DeGeneres, who told her followers that she was "shocked and sad" about Pia's exit. Oscar-winning actor Tom Hanks wrote, "Don't have an 'Idol' habit, but how could the USA vote Pia off? I may be done for the season!" Others expressing dismay included Marlon Wayans, Minka Kelly, Alyssa Milano, former "Idol" finalist Melinda Doolittle and "Parenthood" actor Dax Shepard.
In the end, Pia herself tweeted a farewell (for now), telling her followers, "I'm truly going to miss my idol family! Thank you @JLo Randy and Steven for believing in me. Love you and love my fans!"
How do you feel about Pia's elimination? Let us know in the comments below!