Ten black former contestants of American Idol are suing the show for $25 million.

The suit alleges that American Idol produces targeted the contestants because of their race, and then illegally dug up their criminal records in order to expose and disgrace them on national television.

They claim the criminal records of white contestants were never investigated.

From TMZ:

The contestants — Corey Clark (Season 2), Jaered Andrews (Season 2), Jacob John Smalley (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).

The contestants’ lawyer claims the show used the arrest info to make his clients appear to be “violent criminals, liars and sexual deviants” … when they weren’t. In fact, none had ever even been convicted of the charges stemming from their arrests.

Worse, the lawyer claims ONLY black people were ever probed about their alleged criminal pasts … never white people.

Read more at TMZ

Each contestant is also asking that American Idol adopt anti-racism regulations.

No comment from FOX.

 

Thoughts on these allegations?