Riverhead woman: I was forced to make ‘American Idol’ speech

UPDATE: The News-Review has since obtained a photo of the man.

The Riverhead woman who announced at Sunday’s Riverhead Cardboard Boat Race that she is going to be on the next season of “American Idol,” said she was forced to do so by a man who claimed to be a founding member of the Beach Boys.

“He pushed me up on stage,” said Amy Wesolowski, who claimed in a telephone interview that the man forced her to make the announcement in front of the large crowd on the Peconic Riverfront.

“I think he may be some kind of con artist,” she said.

The 2005 Riverhead High School graduate said she never tried out for “American Idol” and was only repeating what the man, who told her he was Mike Love of the Beach Boys, asked her to say. She said Sunday evening that she has been around town searching for the man and that she is looking to possibly press charges. Riverhead police said Sunday night that she has not yet filed a complaint.

The tone in her voice was far different from earlier, when she pleaded with the local community to watch her on the popular music show.

“I’m gonna win this thing,” Ms. Wesolowski said to the crowd, a smile on her face. “I’m hoping you all watch it, listen to me sing and call in and vote as much as you can.”

She refused when boat race emcee Anthony Coates asked her to sing for the crowd.

When the News-Review attempted to interview her shortly after the announcement, she declined comment. The man who she now claims forced her to make the announcement told a News-Review reporter that she had already promised another local news blog an exclusive interview. He did not identify himself to the News-Review.

The news was exciting to folks around Riverhead, who seemed to believe what she had to say.

“I don’t watch ‘American Idol,’ but I guess I’ll have to watch it now,” said Riverhead Town Supervisor Sean Walter.

The Beach Boys are performing at Jones Beach tonight.

Paul Squire and Tim Gannon contributed reporting for this story.

TIM GANNON PHOTO | Riverhead's Amy Wesolowski said she will be on the next season of 'American Idol.'