Former
American Idol finalist Mario Vazquez is
being accused of sexual harassment by Magdaleno Olmos, the
assistant accountant for Fremantle Media, which
produces American Idol, reports TMZ.com.
Vazquez is
accused of masturbating in front of Olmos in a bathroom on
the set of American Idol back in February 2005.
Soon after the alleged incident, Vazquez suddenly dropped
out of the final round of 12 contestants, citing
"family reasons."
Olmos claims in
the lawsuit that "Vazquez stared lasciviously, smiled
lasciviously...and on one occasion followed him into a
bathroom...knocked on the door of the plaintiff's
stall and made eye contact through the space in the
stall door." Vazquez then allegedly "started to rub
his genitals over his pants. Attempting to leave the
bathroom, Olmos opened the door of the stall and saw
Vasquez standing in front of him with his pants down."
Olmos claims
Vazquez pushed him "further into the stall and continued
masturbating with one hand and trying to pull down Olmos'
pants with another hand," and that Vazquez touched his
"chest and stomach underneath his shirt" and his
genitals. Vazquez then allegedly "attempted to unzip"
Olmos's pants and asked "if he wanted oral sex."
Olmos says that
he tried to report the incident to Eric LaPointe, a
superior, who allegedly responded by calling
Olmos "crazy" and threatened repeatedly to fire
him. Olmos claims he was terminated a few months
later.
Olmos is suing
not only Vazquez but Fox Entertainment and Fremantle Media
for wrongful termination. (The Advocate)
