American Idol finalist Corey Clark has been kicked off the show for failing to admit to an outstanding criminal charge.

The 22-year-old is awaiting trial for a misdemeanour charge of assault against his sister, a fact which he neglected to disclose to producers of the FOX show.

"Due to his failure to disclose, compounded by an error in a police report which misspelled Corey's name, the incident was not discovered during a background check," said a spokesman for the network. "The producers and network feel that Corey's behaviour warrants his disqualification."

There is no word yet on whether Clark will be replaced.