News Tries
- Former “American Idol” contestant Normandy Vamos has sued the manufacturing corporations behind the present.
- She alleged that she was overworked, underpaid and signed away on worker rights.
- Vamos’ legal professionals alleged that he was made a “laughing stock” by the present and was not paid for eight consecutive days of labor.
A former “American Idol” contestant is suing the manufacturing corporations behind the present, alleging she was underpaid and arrange in an audition that went viral.
In line with a lawsuit filed Friday by former participant Normandy Vamos, she and different contestants had been handled as workers however weren’t paid, working 15-hour days with little or no breaks. Vamos alleged that her remaining audition was partially arrange for viral fame in a category motion lawsuit involving 400 former members.
In the lawsuit, Vamos mentioned that after a sequence of profitable auditions, members had been invited to remain at a Los Angeles lodge throughout “Hollywood Week”. At the time, Vamos’ legal professionals allege, the present ought to have categorised the members as workers and never volunteers underneath California regulation, due to the potential for episodes to be re-aired.
In line with the lawsuit, the contestants stayed at the lodge for 15 hours a day on stand-by, ready to be known as to audition for 8 days with out pay. The wage theft lawsuit additionally alleges that the contestants had been compelled to signal “work for hire” contracts, which signed away their copyright and license rights to the efficiency.
Representatives for American Idol and ABC didn’t instantly reply to Insider’s request for remark.
Vamos’ legal professional mentioned, “The producers of American Idol feel they can flout labor laws and exploit aspiring young performers simply because they may be eager to become the next Jennifer Hudson or Carrie Underwood.” Chantal PaytonPrincipal Managing Companion of Payton Employment Legislation, PC mentioned in a press launch. “He treated them as so-called volunteers, whereas in fact they are employees who should be paid.”
Peyton additionally claimed in the press launch that the judges made Vamos “a laughingstock” at the audition. Her legal professionals claimed she was instructed to retrieve a carrot-shaped purse when it was her flip to assist create a viral second. The choose was talking at a excessive pitched voice to her for an audition, the legal professionals mentioned in the assertion.
Vamos mentioned in a press launch, “Reality TV isn’t always real. A lot happens behind the scenes.” “I and hundreds of others worked almost a week without pay.”
In February 2022 Audition, Vamos arrived holding a carrot purse and carrying bunny rabbit croc sneakers, leaving choose Katy Perry in shock upon listening to her voice. Perry briefly leaves the choose’s desk earlier than all the judges lastly vote Vamos via to the subsequent spherical.
“Fuck this job. I’m outta here!” Perry Lighthart says in the section. The judges had been impressed by Vamos’ low register efficiency of “Proud Mary”.
Vamos by no means appeared in the subsequent spherical, and defended first show verdict To not advance him in “Hollywood Week”. She is not capable of compete on the present at the age of 30 as a consequence of the present’s cutoff age being 29.