It’s not all fun and games Nicki Minaj/Mariah Carey quips on Idol!
Producers of the show may soon face a lawsuit, brought on by nine black former contestants, who are claiming that the show is racist.
The nine singers who have joined together to make the allegations that they were FORCED off the show because of their race?
Corey Clark (Season 2), Jaered Andrews (Season 2), Donnie Williams (Season 3), Terrell Brittenum (Season 5), Derrell Brittenum (Season 5), Thomas Daniels ├»┬╗┬┐(Season 6), Akron Watson (Season 6), Ju’Not Joyner (Season 8) and Chris Golightly (Season 9).
Supposedly, the former Idol hopefuls feel they were booted from the show as a way for the network to up their ratings!
They’ve even hired a lawyer, wrote a letter to the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and are investigating the show for only publicly disqualifying nine contestants, who were all black.
James H. Freeman, the former contestants’ attorney, claims that producers shouldn’t be allowed to ask about previous arrests and thinks it’s all part of a “scheme.”
Here├óΓé¼Γäós the thing — the rules CLEARLY state that contestants can be disqualified for giving any false information or filling out the audition form truthfully.
As far as ex-contestant Corey Clark goes, he was booted because he initially lied to producers about an arrest… and let├óΓé¼Γäós not even get into the shiz he started about his alleged affair with Paula Abdul!
Freeman believes the public disqualifications were made to perpetuate black stereotypes and feels the nine were made out to be “violent criminals, liars and sexual deviants.├óΓé¼┬¥
He also alleges that the show has “never once publicly disqualified a white or non-black American Idol contestant in the history of the 11-season production”.
Idol executive producer Nigel Lythgoe has blasted the claims, stating:
“We treat everybody the same… no matter the race, religion or sex. I think we’ve always had a fantastic share of talent from contestants both black and white… I don’t think I’ve ever seen racism at the show.”
It’s also worth noting that THREE Idol winners were indeed, black: Ruben Studdard, Fantasia Barrino and Jordin Sparks.
Freeman is currently waiting on approval from EEOC to file the lawsuit.
[Images via WENN.]