Fox hit show "American Idol" is being sued by 10 former contestants claiming they were kicked off the show because they were black.
Season 2's Corey Clark, Jared Andrews and Jacob John Smalley; season 3's Donnie Williams; season 5's twin brothers Terrell and Derrell Brittenum; season 6's Thomas Daniels and Akron Watson; season 8's Ju'Not Joyner and season 9's Chris Golightly.
The contestants were kicked off the show due to criminal history that was not reported during the time of application.
Clark was disqualified after producers of the show found he was previously arrested and charged with misdemeanor battery on a police officer and his sister. Andrews was charged with assault after being involved in a bar fight. The Brittenum twins were kicked off when producers learned of their charges of identity theft.
The contestants' attorney, James H. Freeman, claimed "Idol" used his clients' history to make them look like "violent criminals, liars and sexual deviants," according to Fox news. Freeman said black contestants were judged for their past crimes and the white contestants were not.
According to TMZ Freeman said:
"The contestants have accused producers of conducting a 'cruel and inhumane' scheme to exploit them for ratings by illegally digging up their arrest histories and using the records to humiliate them on national TV."
The show used the arrest info to make his client appear to be "violent criminals, lairs and sexual deviants"... when they weren't. In fact, none had ever been convicted of the charges stemming from their arrests. "
According to Freeman, producers asking contestants "Have you ever been arrested?" is a violation of the California employment law. There are no reports on Fox's comments on the lawsuit or accusations.
"American Idol" has had four African American winners during its run: Ruben Studdard, Fantasia Barrino, Jordin Sparks and this recent season in Candice Glover.
The former contests are seeking damages of $25 million each. The popular singing competition wrapped season 12 in May.
