Ten former "American Idol" contestants are suing the FOX competition show, saying they were kicked off because of their race, TMZ reported.
According to the report, each contestant is seeking $25 million from "Idol" and production company Freemantle Media for discrimination and other "misdeeds."
The plaintiffs include contestants from seasons two through nine of the popular reality series. Joining the suit are three contestants from season two: Corey Clark, who was disqualified when producers discovered he had previously been arrested for misdemeanor battery; Jaered Andrews, who was also disqualified because of an assault charge, and Jacob John Smalley, who was eliminated early in the season.
Also involved are season three contestant Donnie Williams and season five contestants Terrell and Derrell Brittenum, who were all cut for separate arrests and charges. Season six contestants Thomas Daniels and Akron Watson are also on board. Daniels was disqualified for drunk driving charges and Watson for possession of marijuana.
Rounding out the suit are season eight's Ju'Not Joyner, who says he was let go for questioning the show's contract and Chris Golightly, who says he was let go in season nine over issues with a former recording contract.
According to FOX News, James H. Freeman, the contestants' lawyer, says that the show painted his clients to look like "violent criminals, liars and sexual deviants." He also noted that none of the ten contestants have ever been convicted of the charges that led to their disqualifications.
Freeman says he first started studying the racial discrimination claims when black contestant Jermaine Jones, who is not involed in the suit, was dismissed during season 11 for minor infractions. He says that it was then that he discovered that "Idol" producers were only questioning black contestants about their arrest histories, not white contestants.
He also alleges that asking contestants if they have ever been arrested is against California employment law.
Fox had no comment on the suit.
