LOS ANGELES (March 12, 2007) ? ?American Idol? and former Season 4 finalist Mario Vazquez are being sued by an ex-employee of the popular program who alleges he was fired for complaining of sexual harassment.
Click here to view the lawsuit.
Vazquez, a handsome, popular contestant, left the show, two seasons ago for personal reasons, telling Access Hollywood at the time, ?[It] has nothing to do with my family, nothing with me being sick, nothing like that. Basically there will be lots of hearsay on certain things,? he added.
Now however, an ?Idol? controversy has erupted suggesting Vazquez may have actually left the show because accusations of sexual harassment on the contestant?s part came to light.
Mario Vazquez ‘Idol’ “Top 12” Party, February 15, 2005
Magdaleno Olmos, a former assistant production accountant, filed court papers in LA Superior Court accusing Vazquez of harassing him and ?Idol? of letting him go, for reporting the issue.
In court papers obtained by Access Hollywood, Olmos claims the harassment began around February 22, 2005 at CBS studios. Among the charges levied in the suit against Vazquez are staring ?lasciviously at the Plaintiff at length.? He is also accused of having ?smiled lasciviously at? Olmos.
The lawsuit describes at least one graphicincident that allegedly occurred after Vazquez followed him into a bathroom across the way from the ?Idol? set. Olmos claimed in the suit he used the other facility to avoid the show?s ?participants.?
?Vazquez entered the bathroom, knocked on the door of Plaintiff?s stall, looked under the door, looked through the space in the stall door and made eye contact with Plaintiff,? the suit recounts.
?Vazquez then started to rub his genitals over his pants.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,? it continues.
Olmos further accuses Vazquez of having touched him in a ?sexual? way and asking the “Idol” worker ?if he wanted oral sex.?
Olmos claims he complained to supervisor Eric LaPointe, who is named in the suit about the incidents, but ?Lapointe each time told Plaintiff that he was crazy, was imagining this, and should keep this information to himself because no one would believe his account,? the suit says.
He also alleges the supervisor said if he ?did not stop complaining about his supervisor?s hostile treatment of him, Plaintiff would ?cry [himself] out of a job? and not be back for Season 5.?
Fox Entertainment said they had not been served, but would not comment on pending litigation.
Vazquez’s attorney was at a function and also could not be reached Monday. Olmos? attorney also could not be reached at press time.
Olmos is suing for wrongful termination and violation of the state?s Fair Employment and Housing Act.
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