ian benardo
photo credit // american idol/fremantle media/19tv
New York City -
A gay man whose antics have made him an infamous "American Idol" reject now claims in a new lawsuit that the show discriminated against him.
Ian Benardo auditioned for the show in 2007. His freakout on Simon Cowell made him a minor YouTube hit and producers asked him back for the 2010 season finale.
"I became a paid employee when they asked me back. Only after that did I start hearing, 'Why don't you act more faggy?'" Benardo told the New York Daily News.
"They encouraged me to be totally outlandish, they wanted me to dress in drag and kept using anti-gay slurs to tell me how to behave."
"American Idol" producers have not commented.
Benardo said he now suffers from panic attacks.
He wants $300 million in damages.
Ian Benardo auditioned for the show in 2007. His freakout on Simon Cowell made him a minor YouTube hit and producers asked him back for the 2010 season finale.
"I became a paid employee when they asked me back. Only after that did I start hearing, 'Why don't you act more faggy?'" Benardo told the New York Daily News.
"They encouraged me to be totally outlandish, they wanted me to dress in drag and kept using anti-gay slurs to tell me how to behave."
"American Idol" producers have not commented.
Benardo said he now suffers from panic attacks.
He wants $300 million in damages.
