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Singer Sued for Sexually Harassing Idol Staffer
« on: Mar 13th, 2007, 7:18pm » |
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Singer Sued for Sexually Harassing Idol Staffer
http://www.eonline.com/news/article/index.jsp?uuid=8c430886-d738-44de-8a b9-60ec551b07ba
As Antonella Barba knows, appearing on American Idol can gain you a certain type of exposure.
And according to a former employee of American Idol Productions, there are other types of exposure to be had on the set of the hit show, as well.
Magdaleno Olmos sued American Idol Productions, Fox and season-four contestant Mario Vazquez for wrongful termination Friday, alleging that Olmos was fired after complaining to various higher-ups that Vazquez had sexually harassed him by making unwanted advances, flashing his genitals and engaging in other inappropriate behavior.
Although he was a fan favorite during his abbreviated Idol run, Vazquez will probably be most remembered for voluntarily dropping out of the competition, citing "family reasons" at the time but setting off rumors that he didn't want to be bound by the usual recording contract that Idol offers its winners (and runners-up, and third-place finishers…).
According to Olmos' lawsuit, however, Vazquez withdrew after the assistant production accountant discussed his harassment allegations with executives and attorneys for American Idol Productions and the other defendants, including FremantleMedia North America, Fox Entertainment Group and Fox Broadcasting Co., all listed in the suit as co-owners of the show.
Manfred Westphal, VP of communications for Fremantle, told E! News that the company does not comment on pending litigation. A spokesperson for Fox said the same thing, but added that they have not yet been served with the lawsuit.
There was no immediate comment from reps for Vazquez or any of the other defendants.
The sexual harassment began in February 2005, Olmos stated in court documents filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, starting with Vazquez smiling and staring "lasciviously" at Olmos and ending with the aspiring pop star cornering Olmos in a men's room catercorner to the American Idol stage.
At one point, the lawsuit states, Vazquez followed Olmos into a bathroom at CBS Studios, where Idol is taped, and peeked under the locked door of the stall Olmos had entered.
"Attempting to leave the bathroom, plaintiff opened the door of the stall and saw Vazquez standing in front of him with his pants down, masturbating," court documents state. Vazquez, still masturbating, then tried to pull Olmos' pants down, proceeding to "touch plaintiff's chest, plaintiff's stomach underneath his shirt and plaintiff's genitals as Vazquez attempted to unzip plaintiff's pants."
Then, according to Olmos, Vazquez asked him if he wanted oral sex. Before Olmos could leave the bathroom, the lawsuit states, Vazquez grabbed his arm and tried to persuade him to stay.
"Because of Vazquez's celebrity status," documents state, "Plaintiff was afraid to defend himself physically against Vazquez's sexual harassment and battery for fear of losing his job."
Olmos said that he tried to complain to his superior, Eric LaPointe, who is also named as a defendant, but that Lapointe told him "he was crazy" and imagining things, and should keep tales of Vazquez smiling and flirting to himself.
LaPointe also allegedly told Olmos that, as far as the bathroom incident was concerned, Olmos had probably either initiated it himself or, if it did go down the way he said, "nothing could be done about it."
Olmos' boss also told supposedly told him, per court documents, that if he didn't stop complaining, he would "cry [himself] out of a job." He was then fired on or about May 19, 2005, the suit states.
Olmos, who has also charged his former colleagues with violating the California Fair Employment and Housing Act, is seeking unspecified punitive and compensatory damages for "economic losses, depravation of civil rights, humiliation, physical anguish, and mental and emotional distress."
Vazquez, 29, whatever his reasons for leaving Idol were, eventually signed with Arista and released his self-titled debut album, featuring the single "Gallery," to little fanfare in September.
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