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Is 'American Idol' racist?

Report: Disqualified African-American contestants plan to sue

By Corey Levitan Jan 25, 2013 10:39AM
starpittsburgh.cbslocal.com

Nine disqualified "American Idol" contestants, from various seasons, are banding together to sue the show, according to TMZ, claiming a racist and unlawful plot to bolster ratings.

Corey Clark (Season 2), Jaered Andrews (Season 2), Donnie Williams (Season 3), Terrell and Derrell Brittenum (Season 5), Thomas Daniels (Season 6), Akron Watson (Season 6), Ju'Not Joyner (Season 8) and Chris Golightly (Season 9) were all named in a letter submitted by New York attorney James H. Freeman to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the report says.

 

Bing: More about 'American Idol' | Video: Watch clips | Photos: See highlights

 

In his letter -- the first step toward a lawsuit -- Freeman says he became suspicious of a "cruel and inhumane" conspiracy when Jermaine Jones was booted off "Idol" last year, during Season 11. Producers claim it was because he failed to inform them about outstanding arrest warrants. When he looked into the show, Freeman claims, he found that the only "Idol" contestants ever disqualified (Jones and the nine named above) were all black.

 

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Freeman claims that the question "Have you ever been arrested?" violates California employment law. Information obtained via that illegal question -- and by criminal records discovered by "Idol" private investigators -- is used to humiliate black contestants on TV, which bolsters negative stereotypes as well as ratings.

"Idol" producer Nigel Lythgoe had this response for TMZ: "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."

Holes quickly opened in Freeman's claim: According to Zap2It.com, Golightly was disqualified due to a former contract he failed to disclose, not an arrest record. And Joyner merely failed to advance, only claiming that he was booted for balking at the "Idol" contract.

In addition, "Idol" has publicly disqualified two non-black contestants: Delano Cagnolatti, for lying about his age; and Joanna Pacitti, for alleged entertainment connections.

Despite the errors uncovered so far, do you think this claim holds water? Or does it sound like sour grapes from the show's who-never-became-who​ list?

"American Idol" airs Wednesdays and Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on FOX.

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444Comments
nyname
Jan 25, 2013 9:24PM
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I see where corey clark is involved in yet another lawsuit against american idol.  Why am i not surprised? Now I am not a fan of the show, but clearly, young Mr. Clark needs to know that he can't sue someone just because his feelings get hurt or because he gets booted off the show or because he doesn't win.  He just needs to go away because no matter how many people he sues, he isn't going to win.  thats not racist... thats just the truth.
DADX Yours
Jan 25, 2013 9:18PM
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considering the lawyer dreamed up the suit and then contacted the people he wanted to be plaintiffs, it sure sounds like the guy(lawyer that is) is a leech, just looking for some big money...
newrn
Jan 25, 2013 9:16PM
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Wow! 3 out of 11 Idol winners have been black americans, 3 of the four judges are black americans.  What are they racist of themselves?  Where does this come from?  Has anyone ever really thought about why racism will never go away? How do black americans expect racism to go away when they rely on it like a crutch?  If they dont get their way then it must be racism, right? I hate attitudes not skin color, white, black, yellow, I hate anyone that presents themself as an idiot.  Get over it, you were not that good, in spite of what your parents say.  Here is the thing even though you didnt keep score when you played as a kid or never had a winner to prevent your feelings from getting, true life is not like that, when you get older you are accountable for yourself and if you dont do your job or do it right you will get fired, not everyone gets to win as an adult.  Its time someone lets you in on that secret.  So any school aged kid that may read this, life is not fair so if you dont get your way and are faced with tragedy it does not always mean you should sue or go shoot someone. Try to remember that kids, your teacher or parents probably wont tell you that because they dont want to hurt your feelings.
PHONDA
Jan 25, 2013 8:46PM
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thats abunch of hogwash..they are not racist.one of the guys did not tell them he had warrants.they can sue but there going to lose.american idol is not racist
PATHETIC ONES
Jan 25, 2013 8:39PM
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WOW PEOPLE WILL SUE OVER ANYTHING. I SHOULD SUE THE AFRICAN AMERICANS FOR PUTTING SIGNS IN THEIR STORE WINDOWS THAT SAY BLACK OWNED. THATS RACIST RIGHT, CAUSE I KNOW IF THE WHITE RACE WERE TO DO THAT IT WOULD CAUSE ALL KINDS OF DRAMA AND MAYBE JESSE JACKSON WOULD EVEN STICK HIS NOSE IN IT. THE AFRICAN RACE NEEDS TO STOP CRYING AND PLAYING THE DAM RACE CARD. MAYBE I SHOULD GO OUT FOR A NBA TEAM AND IF I DON'T MAKE IT I CAN PLAY A RACE CARD MYSELF.
YouCaintBeSerious
Jan 25, 2013 8:28PM
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I don't understand how they can be racist when eventually all of em' are booted except one.
Serpico606
Jan 25, 2013 8:19PM
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I bet the disqualified singers will win in court. This sounds like disparate treatment and further investigation by the EEOC will probably  determine that Idol went further and deeper into the backgrounds of minority singers. Liberals have always been the most racist group against minorities in this country .New York, California, Chicago, three of the most liberals cities in this country among many others have a disgraceful and dispicable history of racism against mainly African Americans. African Africans, shamefully don't know the  history of Liberals and slavery in this country, though it's the 21st century. African American will looked surprised at this lawsuit and still try and defend the master, no matter what. Some still think Lincoln was a Democrat and won't belive that Republicans fought against Democrats on the issue of slavery. Take the time and read the 13th, 14th  and 15th amendment and how Republicans fought "for these laws"  against the Democrats.You'll realize that "Idol" isn't different from man shows and that my response really isn't about politics. Kennedy wire tapped Martin Luther King and used Hoover to do it,  Woodrow Wilson segregated federal employees based on race, Roosevelt initially denied the Jews entrance into the US and also placed Asians into camps during the war. Democrats refuse to acknowledge or accept these facts,so they keep them off of the screen and out of the history books as much as possible.  Idol will undoubtly settle out of court rather than allow the information to become public. By the way, African Americans which I am one, need to see the movie "Lincoln" and see the history of racist Democrats on the big screen instead of the "Django" which is worthless. Jews never allow you to forget and African Americans don't even know there were slaves in almost every Liberal state in this country at one time.Surprise,educat​e yourself!
SparkyOh
Jan 25, 2013 8:16PM
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LOSERS! They either lost or were booted for a reason. I guess they haven't got the message that not everyone gets a prize! WHEN is this nonsense going to stop???
J.TX
Jan 25, 2013 8:14PM
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so asking the question "have you ever been arrested" is now a racist question to ask...rasict against african americans??...since when! african americans aren't the only people to ever get arrested! you don't think a white, chinese or mexican is embarrased when asked if they've ever been arrested??...I hope they throw this lawsuit OUT! it's bogus! these people came to the show to make it and win money. they didn't do that so this is their way to get money! so, let me get this right...NEVER ask an african american if they've been arrested before but all others races are fair game?..
Steve B
Jan 25, 2013 7:52PM
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    Racist and racism are the only terms that blacks  know how to use when thing don't go their way.. just another example of the white man trying to keep the black man down. Get over yourselves. People are really getting tierd of hearing this crap over and over again...Whaaaawhaaaw​haaaaa!!!
obama is a nut job
Jan 25, 2013 7:33PM
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I guess all the white contestants that get kicked off are just no talent bums and if your black and you get kicked off you are as talented as the BEATLES but the judges including the black judges are just plain racist, racism racism racism, get the chip off your shoulder and turn in your ebt card and get a job and some self-respect
Mike 1313
Jan 25, 2013 7:32PM
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Just one more symptom of the EGAT (everyone gets a trophy) generation. Life is not always fair and sometimes the best people don't always win. And perhaps--despite what your parents and friends say--you are not the best. Get over it. IF you are serious about a performing career do something constructive about it.
Iunderstand636
Jan 25, 2013 7:28PM
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Of course they are racist...Frenchie Davis was DQ'ed in season 2 for topless photo's and  season 6 contest Antonella Barba had topless photo's  surface on the internet but it was ok....
Local Gas
Jan 25, 2013 7:20PM
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I think it is a few disgruntled contestants whipping out the race card and a lawyer willing to go along with it, in order to see what can come from it.  Can anyone say settlement? Or getting the former contestants free press?
Roadrunner0
Jan 25, 2013 6:12PM
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And Doctor King is rolling in his grave because his people have been blinded by the very racism he fought against.. Obama by handing out free stuff for votes is poisoning the people he calls his own..They have lowered their moral fiber and become dependant on hand outs while festering in the inner cities.. Get an education, get a job, get a life and it all adds up to success.. Not my words his.. The easy path provided by Satin is join a gang and worship rich Black sports heroes, do drugs.. Black on Black crime is at epidemic proportions, 2/3 of homicides are Black on Black..

　

Black racists!! We have one in the White House crying Whitey is pulling us down every time he does not get his socialist way.. Fact is they look for the most profitable acts and it is not these 9 losers.. Most of these shows are rigged and they plant the talent that they already groomed into the contest to get exposure.. Wake up and smell hollywood.. Losers just trying to sue because they smell someone else's money.. This is almost as bad as the California government worker suit because the Hard discs referenced in an instruction manual were labeled master and slave.. The hypocrite was just sniffing the money trail because there has been no slavery for 150 years.. Whites were slaves as well, indentured servants from Ireland were sold into slavery by their own families to get them to America.. They were still servants into the 1920's and lets not forget the Black gangs that were caught kidnapping White girls and selling them to Arabs..

If there was a White Entertainment Network or a National Association of White People or a United White College fund the first thing Blacks would do is sue them.. Hypocrite racist Blacks..

th3ysuc3danyway
Jan 25, 2013 5:56PM
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Jermaine Jones was horrible.
1peevedbob
Jan 25, 2013 5:40PM
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I could care less, I don't watch Idol....

At this point in time, I see the term racist/racism being vastly over used....When it actually does happen most people will not give a rats rectum if some one has been done wrong or not....

grouchomarx
Jan 25, 2013 5:37PM
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Other minorities discriminated by Am-Idol: dwarfs, midgets, amputees, Down Syndromes, quadriplegics, deaf people, lycanthropes, zombies, androids, grey aliens, Atlanteans, Sasquatches, CHUDs,... how come none of them ever win the contest, or even pass audition? Must be a conspiracy by those emeffin cracker white rednecks, always rigging the game! 
Cheeseeee -__-
Jan 25, 2013 5:35PM
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Ohhhhh , I get it now the ones complaining about blacks are actually black , and are trying to make it seem like they're white . Lol , low self esteem , low self esteem . That's not good at all .
Buri123
Jan 25, 2013 5:32PM
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Umm, maybe they just weren't good enough? What a concept.   There were lots and lots of people of other races that were rejected, too.  You don't see them whining about it!
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