Former Idol finalist Mario Vazquez accused of sexual harassment  | Entertainment News | Advocate.com

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March 14, 2007
Former Idol finalist Mario Vazquez accused of sexual harassment
Former Idol finalist Mario Vazquez accused of sexual harassment

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)

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