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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
Forget it....
Jan 25, 2013 1:40PM
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Yeah, it's SO racist they have Randy Jackson and Nikki Minage(sp?) on the panel.  Also Mariah Carey who may be mixed (don't know) or hispanic, and married to a black man.   Seems black kids these days think any time they fail, or things don't work out for them, it's because they are black.  Enough is enough with the OVERUSED race card.  It just doesn't fly anymore. 
Jim Danielson (vamed)
Jan 25, 2013 1:39PM
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This is an entertainment contest and not an employment agency even though the top prize is a lucrative contract. I don't see where this lawyer comes up with equal employment when all who go on this program know it's winner takes all with this entertainment show. It is sad when individuals can't or won't follow the rules believe that they should get special treatment and have to pull out that BS Race Card.

 

Their omission of information on the contest forms would be just like an application for employment. If you omit the correct information and I were to find out you had lied on the application you would be let go. That is why there are rules for many things and being an outright liar brings about these kinds of outcomes. Sorry go home and lick your wounds and try again.

The Paulie
Jan 25, 2013 1:38PM
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When all else fails,play the race card.
Controls Assoc (Bobbyz)
Jan 25, 2013 1:33PM
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They were racist when they  let the black guy win instead of Clay Aiken.  DOnt even remember his name and he never amounted to anything.  That was racist becaus e Clay was much better.    
cupcake117
Jan 25, 2013 1:31PM
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haha, really what the heck, its a bandwagon....
StreamWalker
Jan 25, 2013 1:30PM
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It's a baseless lawsuit. This guy is a very poor loser and doesn't like it when failures in his past catch up to him. Race has nothing to do with who wins or loses on AI.....maybe attitude and talent does.

Spike9856
Jan 25, 2013 1:30PM
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Sounds Like James (POP LOCK KING) is the racist one
Fee Crazed
Jan 25, 2013 1:30PM
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this law suit comes right out of the "everyone gets a trophy" attitude of this country.

Well, NOT EVERYONE wins. NOT everyone is good at EVERYTHING!!

If you did not win Idol, I am guessing it has little to do with the color of your skin.

Now this is 9 people out of how many contestants X how many seasons?

Not seeing where/how this can be an accurate statement.

Jeffrey Wilson (WVJeff)
Jan 25, 2013 1:26PM
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Not that I have an opinion because I don't watch the show but how can you consider this "cruel and inhumane" if you volunteered to appear on this show knowing that the odds were that you're going home?
dobberbob
Jan 25, 2013 1:25PM
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I'd be willing to bet that they didn't realize the show was racist until some slick POS New York lawyer with dollar signs in his eyes contacted them all and told them it was. I'd be surprised if they were considered employees anyway. Is it illegal in CA to ask "have you ever been arrested" to potential contestants on a nationally televised karaoke contest?

grantz
Jan 25, 2013 1:24PM
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I'm 5'7", 65 years old, white and heavy, I demand that the NBA, hire me for 50 million dollars, because you are racist and against old white, short people. where is sharpton???
everydaysmoe
Jan 25, 2013 1:24PM
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When you look at the personality mix on this show, a myriad of ethnicities are present in both cast, judges and contestants.  I fail to see any relationship between these failed contestants and discrimination or any bias by the show's standards it claims to apply evenly across the board.  In today's America it is sooooooooo  easy to cry "wolf" or in this case, "racism". I expect this will never go to court.  It will be, as any seedy lawyer knows an out of court, monetary settlement.  Either way these malcontents win and will win big. And I am sure, beyond a resonable doubt that if any of the guest judges even had the slighest inkling there was racial manipulation by the directorial staff, someone by now would have been raising a rukus.  Lastly, look at how many contestants are fielded per series and look at the percentage of contestants that are Black or White. I have nothing to back my claim but I am sure that the ratio is well in favor of Black contestants as opposed to Caucasian.  How many Caucasian contestants have been given the "stick" that do not even have the legal right to go running to a federal agency developed solely for their legal protection because of their color???????????
Fast eddy899
Jan 25, 2013 1:23PM
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Hey pop lock 
You are the most racist a...hole on here....and I'm black...you make all us working 
Educated African Americans look like a knuckle dragging crack head like you.
Daniel Fortesque
Jan 25, 2013 1:23PM
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Big surprise, minorities blaming the system for their own faults. 
AntonLaVey
Jan 25, 2013 1:21PM
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Nine may claim it is racist, but millions claim it be a complete waste of time because the show sucks @$$.
james (Pop Lock King)
Jan 25, 2013 1:19PM
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If you are on the television show why should they care about your past. Hell they never cared about a black persons past, present, or future. Why do you knuckle dragging trailer feces think that they let America pick the winners. BECAUSE AMERICA IS MOSTLY CHAULKED FACE, and untalented. You all should stick to snowboarding, jumping out of airplanes, and crashing into mountains at 100 M.P.H.

Lilylawyer
Jan 25, 2013 1:19PM
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While I agree that this lawsuit is completely baseless and stupid, I am fairly amused by the vitriol being spewed by the trolls hiding behind their computer screens in response to the story. Whenever I read the hatefule responses, I think two things: 1) there is a trememndous amount of hate in the world, and 2) the ingorant foolishness posted just serves to remind me of my own superiority as a human being. So, Joe Deez, Worldfullofidiots, and Musiclover88...THANK​S for reminding me of how awesome I am! 
jack2323
Jan 25, 2013 1:18PM
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I guess it's time to start a black only American Black Idol.  Afterall we have the All Black Miss USA, All Black Mayors convention, All Black police commissioners convention, NAACP, and on and on.  If it were reversed there would be riots.
Leroy96
Jan 25, 2013 1:17PM
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Let me see if I understand.

This year they have 3 black judges, Blacks are 12 % of the population. 1 white judge where whites are 60% of the population.

OH, I understand, we need 4 black judges and only black contestants then these low life sucking, give me everything I am tired of stealing it, then my criminal mind race will be happy.

 

95% of blackds voted for Obama because he was the best choice. (My ****) they voted for him because he is black. We should sue them for being racial.

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