Is American Idol Racist? Lawyer Says Yes.

A New York attorney has banded together NINE former American Idol contestants in an attempt to sue the show for being racist. James H. Freeman says that since American Idol first aired it has disqualified nine contestants, all of them being black males. The men were disqualified after producers discovered they had varying criminal histories.

The former Idol contestants involved in the pending lawsuit are:

Corey Clark – Season 2
Jaered Andrews- 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
Chris Golightly – Season 9

Most were disqualified for holding back their prior arrests.

Freeman says he noticed what he thought was a peculiar pattern when Jermaine Jones was disqualified last season (American Idol Season 11). He poked around and noted that ALL 9 contestants who have been asked to leave the show have been black men so he write to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and asked permission to sue American Idol on the grounds of racism, and the fact that producers asked, “have you ever been arrested?” His point is that being on American Idol is employment, and employers in the state of California are not allowed to ask about prior arrests.

I looked up the law and I believe (correct me if I’m wrong) that employers are only allowed to ask if a person has been convicted of a crime. They cannot ask, “Have you been arrested?”

Freeman also believes that American Idol is attempting to exploit these men, based on their race.

Do you think the show has been racist?