As if the game show wasn’t in enough hot water with abysmal ratings and high turnover!!
Ten former American Idol contestants from several different seasons just filed a lawsuit against the show — each claims they were unjustly booted because they are black and now they’re looking for a huge payday!!!
Lawyers for the failed contestants claim the show misconstrued them all to be “violent criminals, liars and sexual deviants” when none of them were even convicted of those charges!
The plaintiffs accuse producers of concocting various “cruel and inhumane” plans which include digging up their arrest records and humiliating them on national TV just to boost the show’s ratings, which is why they each seek millions of dollars in damages!!!
They allege racial discrimination because, according to the plaintiff’s lawyer, only black contestants were probed about a criminal background!!
Claiming their lives were irrevocably tarnished by an undeserved bashing on network TV, the ten former contestants want more than just the cash, they want American Idol to instigate new policies which might prevent this from ever happening again!
The contestants — Corey Clark, Jaered Andrews, Jacob John Smalley, Donnie Williams, Terrell Brittenum, Derrell Brittenum, Thomas Daniels, Akron Watson, Ju’Not Joyner, and Chris Golightly — are seeking AT LEAST $25 million each.
Fox has yet to comment on the lawsuit.
[Image via Fox.]