MSN TV Blog - Reality TV

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.

444Comments
Jan 25, 2013 2:13PM
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Can't get your way or what you want play the race card.
Jan 25, 2013 2:12PM
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You didn't win because someone else was better than you.

 

black Americans continue to show how pathetic they are.

 

It is about taking responsibility, you lost suck it up.

 

This is a consistant theme with this race, I lost (because I'm black), I didn't the job (because I'm black), I got a ticket (because I'm black), etc.

 

You lost, someone else was better, you didn't get the job, someone else was smarter(more qualified), you got a ticket, you were speeding.

 

What a pathetic race.

Jan 25, 2013 2:11PM
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I guess you have to ask the mostly black or married to black judges why they hate their own.

Jan 25, 2013 2:10PM
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What losers. They all sucked and are pissed they didnt  amount to squat. Should of never given them the opportunity to begin with Idol. Racist? That line is weak and old
Jan 25, 2013 2:09PM
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There have been eleven American Idol winners of which three are black.  This means that 27% of the winners are black even though the black population in America is 13%.  Hence, blacks have won AI at a rate twice that of their relative population.
Jan 25, 2013 2:09PM
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I use to watch it but when Tyler J/lo left, i left too. the judges thay have no well that odd ball one with the different color hair she is goofy she looks like bozo, janet jackson all rolled into one. How can they show these STUPID ignorant people on TV where do they find these people at.
Jan 25, 2013 2:08PM
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afro-americans are the most racists people 
Jan 25, 2013 2:03PM
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are you kidding!!!blame anything or anyone,try looking in the mirror.
Jan 25, 2013 1:59PM
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When minorities don't get what they want the cry racism...
Jan 25, 2013 1:58PM
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Seems like a lawyer is just trying to make a name for himself and hoping Idol just settles.  I bet he went and found the constestants and convinved them that Idol will pay them something to just go away
Jan 25, 2013 1:56PM
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If all the disqualified contestants were white you wouldn't hear a fkg peep. This pettifogger lawyer is looking to make some bucks. Meanwhile, Golightly is so white-skinned that he hardly qualifies as being black and Clark looks more Hispanic than black. But, be that as it may, it's typical screaming and chaniting from sullen low-lives with criminal records that think non-blacks are going to tremble in their boots. Fk 'em!
Jan 25, 2013 1:55PM
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BILL COSBY SAID IT BEST.
They're standing on the corner and they can't speak English.
I can't even talk the way these people talk:
Why you ain't,
Where you i...s,
What he drive,
Where he stay,
Where he work,
Who you be...
And I blamed the kid until I heard the mother talk.
And then I heard the father talk.
Everybody knows it's important to speak English except these knuckleheads. You can't be a doctor with that kind of crap coming out of your mouth.
In fact you will never get any kind of job making a decent living.
People marched and were hit in the face with rocks to get an Education, and now we've got these knuckleheads walking around.
The lower economic people are not holding up their end in this deal.
These people are not parenting. They are buying things for kids.
$500 sneakers for what?
And they won't spend $200 for Hooked on Phonics.
I am talking about these people who cry when their son is standing there in an orange suit.
Where were you when he was 2?
Where were you when he was 12?
Where were you when he was 18 and how come you didn't know that he had a pistol?
And where is the father? Or who is his father?
People putting their clothes on backward:
Isn't that a sign of something gone wrong?
People with their hats on backward, pants down around the crack, isn't that a sign of something?
Isn't it a sign of something when she has her dress all the way up and got all type of needles [piercing] going through her body?
What part of Africa did this come from??
We are not Africans. Those people are not Africans; they don't know a thing about Africa .....
I say this all of the time. It would be like white people saying they are European-American. That is totally stupid.
I was born here, and so were my parents and grand parents and, very likely my great grandparents. I don't have any connection to Africa, no more than white Americans have to Germany , Scotland , England , Ireland , or the Netherlands . The same applies to 99 percent of all the black Americans as regards to Africa . So stop, already! ! !
With names like Shaniqua, Taliqua and Mohammed and all of that crap ......... And all of them are in jail.
Brown or black versus the Board of Education is no longer the white person's problem.
We have got to take the neighborhood back.
People used to be ashamed. Today a woman has eight children with eight different 'husbands' -- or men or whatever you call them now.
We have millionaire football players who cannot read.
We have million-dollar basketball players who can't write two paragraphs. We, as black folks have to do a better job.
Someone working at Wal-Mart with seven kids, you are hurting us.
We have to start holding each other to a higher standard..
We cannot blame the white people any longer.'
Dr.. William Henry 'Bill' Cosby, Jr., Ed..D.
WELL SAID, BILL
It's NOT about color...
It's about behavior!!!
Jan 25, 2013 1:51PM
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You mean to tell me this American Idol Freak Show is still on TV????

 

Sheeeeez.........I thought the show was said, done, and over with wayyyyy back when that Talentless Freak of a Clown Taylor Hicks won.

 

Oh Well.........Guess I learned something today......Something I could've really gone the whole day with out knowing.......................... 

Jan 25, 2013 1:46PM
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"Cry me a River", old song, same old same old. Get some talent and then cry me a river if you lose! Twit.
Jan 25, 2013 1:45PM
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The show is not racist... It just stinks.....
Jan 25, 2013 1:44PM
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I wonder if LEGO knows about this?
Jan 25, 2013 1:43PM
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Racist.....WTF,

Talk about racist...what about the black music awards? ever see a white person there? What if there was a white music awards?

In school there was a black students union. Why didn't they have a white students union?

What about BET. Black entertainment television... Wheres the WET

Shouldn't racism be a two way street? Its only recism when it works for a certain person.

Jan 25, 2013 1:42PM
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It is time to start suing colleges over football and basketball scholarships as they are racially biased and then we will sue the NFL and the NBA. Miss America and Miss USA are biased against ugly women too!! And so on and so on and so on!!!!!!!!
Jan 25, 2013 1:41PM
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Racist? Really? What a crock of sh*t.
Let's see:

Season 2 winner = black
Season 3 winner = black
Season 6 winner = black

So 3 out of 11 winners were black so the ratio is a little over 3 to 1 white/black
The ratio in the US of  whites to blacks is 5 to 1. Based on the math it looks like blacks are getting more than their share of wins.

Jan 25, 2013 1:40PM
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I've never seen the show, so I can't say if it's racist or not, but since it's taken the bunch of you 9yrs or more to realize this I think you have more problems than whether or not this show is racist.
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