Jennifer Lopez Breaks Down As Favorite Sent Home On ‘American Idol’; 5 Of Top 24 Unveiled

“American Idol” revealed the first handful of their Top 24 contestants on Wednesday night’s show, but the biggest news of the evening was the shocking departure of Chris Medina, and how cutting him from the competition forced judge Jennifer Lopez to break down.

Just weeks ago, the reality star hopeful moved America with his audition to The Script’s “Breakeven.” He was made even more memorable when “American Idol” chose to highlight his own heroic and touching journey with his beloved fiancée, Juliana Ramos, who is mostly confined to a wheelchair following a tragic car accident, not long before they were due to marry.

“It was just honestly a pleasure to meet you… For me that was a blessing in my life that I’ll always remember — somebody who has the conviction that you do; the love in your heart that you do; who stands up as a man in the way that you do. And that’s why everybody was touched by your story,” Jennifer told Chris as he met with the judges for their verdict on Wednesday night.

Chris’ final audition for the Top 24 was to a song close to his heart – Coldplay’s “Fix You” — but it wasn’t strong enough to get him through.

“It honestly breaks my heart to say this, but you did not make it into the Top 24,” an emotional Jennifer said. “We wish you the best with everything and we wish Julie the best with everything and we’ll miss you.”

“It was so nice meeting you guys, it really was,” an affable Chris responded. “I really wasn’t even going to take the path of being a musician any more.”

The words cut straight to Jennifer’s heart and she quickly encouraged Chris to never give up.

“Oh Chris! Don’t stop,” she said, her voice tinged with emotion.

“I think I started to find my voice here,” Chris responded.

Chris took the news better than many of those who were let go, thanking the judges for the opportunity, and giving them hugs before he left, but the moment he stood up and walked off the stage, Jennifer broke down.

She began crying unstoppably and turned away from the cameras as her fellow judges – Randy Jackson and Steven Tyler tried to console her.

The episode ended with Jennifer continuing to cry and her saying, “I don’t want to do this anymore,” with producers leaving a “To Be Continued” sign on the screen, suggesting Jennifer might have been ready to leave the show at that moment.

While Chris’ journey and Jennifer’s break down were heavy moments in the final hour of the show, there were some happier times too as five contestants were put through.

As for those who received the good news, unveiled in the Top 24 were Naima Adedapo, who auditioned with a Donny Hathaway song in Milwaukee; Clint Jun Gamboa, the karaoke host and R&B singer who kicked youngster Jacee Badeaux out of his group during Hollywood week; Hailey Reinhart who tried out with “Oh Darling” in Milwaukee; Paul McDonald, who auditioned singing “Maggie May” in Nashville and Ashton Jones, the young woman who stood out at Hollywood Week with “I’m Not Telling You.”