Mario Vazquez News

A former assistant production accountant for the company behind American Idol is suing his ex-employer and a former contestant on the FOX series' fourth season, alleging he was fired for complaining of sexual harassment by the male contestant.

Magdaleno Olmos filed his suit in Los Angeles Superior Court, alleging wrongful termination and violation of the state's Fair Employment and Housing Act. He is asking for unspecified compensatory and punitive damages.

Along with American Idol Productions Inc. and former contestant Mario Vazquez, named defendants are Fremantle Media North America Inc., Fox Entertainment Group Inc. and FOX Broadcasting Co., all listed in the lawsuit as co-owners of the popular show.

Spokesmen for Fremantle and FOX Entertainment, as well as Vasquez's personal lawyer, Jess L. Rosen, were not immediately available for comment on the complaint filed last Friday. All of the defendants "knew or should have known that Vazquez was gay or was widely rumored to be so," the lawsuit states.

Vazquez dropped out of the top 12 talent search competition during the fourth season of American Idol in March 2005, saying he wanted to focus on personal aspects of his life.

The lawsuit alleges that Vazquez withdrew from the show after Olmos came forward with his complaints and discussed them with executives and attorneys for American Idol Productions and the other defendants. Olmos claims the sexual harassment began in February 2005.

On one occasion, Vazquez followed Olmos into a restroom at CBS Studios, where American Idol is taped, and knocked on the door of a stall Olmos had entered, according to his lawsuit.

When Olmos opened the door, Vazquez, who had lowered his pants, pushed him further into the stall, touched him in a sexual way and tried to unzip his pants while asking "if he wanted oral sex," according to the lawsuit.

Olmos claims he was able to get out of the restroom, though Vazquez grabbed his arm to try to stop him from leaving.

Continue Reading...

Millions recall when Mario Vazquez shocked the American Idol world by dropping out of the competition last year.

But until now, only a select few knew how weeks earlier, he gave one particular viewer a different kind of emotional jolt.

After a 16-year separation, Vazquez's father, Mario Rivera, was channel-surfing in his living room when he spotted his son on the show.

"He saw my audition tape and tripped out. He cried to my aunt, 'Mario's there! Mario's there!'" Mario Vazquez told People Magazine.

Not long afterward, in that very living room, father and son reunited.

"My dad wasn't around when I was born," says Vazquez, who was raised by his mom, Ada.

Understandably nervous about seeing his father, the singer, 29 (whose self-titled debut album was released late last month), brought a gift for him and flowers for his grandmother and aunt.

"It was emotional. I'm not too big on crying, but I was definitely choking up inside. I want to have that bond fathers and sons have. I think we're almost there. And now I have twice the family I had before," Vazquez said.

Although the show worked wonders for his personal life, American Idol couldn't fulfill Vazquez's creative side.

"I felt (winning) Idol would be restrictive. I don't want anyone telling me how to sound or what to sing. That's why I'm an artist," he said.

So he dropped out to sign a record deal unfettered by the show, ending up with Arista (ironically, now the home of Idol winners Carrie Underwood and Taylor Hicks). He says his new album is "much dancier and edgier" than an American Idol version would have been.

Whether or not fans embrace the disc, he has no regrets about leaving the competition.

"I'd rather be known as the guy who got away," he said.

Despite dropping out of American Idol for personal reasons, it appears as though Mario Vazquez has a bright singing career ahead of him.

Just take a look at the positive review his debut solo album has received from The San Francisco Chronicle:

Vazquez, who mysteriously dropped out of the fourth season of American Idol after making it to the final 12, should have no problem becoming a pop idol on his own with his self-titled debut, full of catchy R&B and pop tracks.

First off, the guy can sing. His first single, "Gallery," isn't spectacular, but it's an infectious song that shows off Vazquez's smooth voice. Singer Ne-Yo wrote and helped produce [it]. Like most of the album, it follows in the style of contemporary R&B singers such as Usher, Chris Brown and Frankie J.

Mario Vazquez is a welcome departure from much of the sexed-up music that tries to pass as love songs. Sure, there are a few cliche lyrics ("Girl, I adore you, never ignore you. You're my angel sent from above.") but stand-out tracks such as "One Shot" and the Caribbean-influenced "Don't Lie" sound earnest and sweet.

Signed by music mogul Clive Davis, it would have been easy for Vazquez to load his debut with guest artists. Other than the up-tempo "Cohiba" with rapper Fat Joe and reggaeton artist Knox, though, the album is all Vazquez and he steps out strong. Not bad for a dropout.

Confused Mario Vazquez fans can take solace: his debut album really is hitting stores shortly.

While the season four contender's self-titled CD was originally slated for an August 29 release date, fans can now circle September 26 on their calendar instead. On that day, they can pick up the disc that boasts collaborations with Daddy Yankee, Scott Storch and Ne-Yo, among others.

Right now, the Vazquez hit, "Gallery," is number-32 on the Billboard Pop 100.

"It's everything I love - a bit of R&B, hip-hop, reggaeton and pop ballads," Mario said of the impending album. "I feel like people know me as kind of a crooner [or] a soft singer so I wanted to just remind them [of that]. Ne-Yo wrote a beautiful song - [he] gave me a golden ticket."

Of course, Vasquez is best known right now as the guy that mysteriously dropped out of American Idol last March before the final round, citing family issues.

"I feel like I've accomplished something major but I also feel like I have a lot to prove," he said. "With this record, I hope it answers people's questions of why I left, artistically."

The singer's next single will be "Cohiba," named after a brand of Cuban cigars.

"There's a bit of innuendo and it's edgier," said Vasquez. "It's just showing another side of Vasquez."

That makes American Idol Worship happy to hear.

With all the American Idols, past and present, in the news these days, we've taken it upon ourselves to spotlight the one who got away.

Mario Vazquez.

That's right. You may remember the Bronx, N.Y., native as the one who sent the Idol universe into shock when he voluntarily left the show's fourth season, citing personal reasons. This came right as it looked like Vazquez was a lock to make the finals and maybe even make a run at the title. His prompt exit enabled Nikko Smith to return for Top 12.

While the personal reasons have yet to be explained, Vazquez has moved on and landed a record deal with BMG chairman Clive Davis, according to Newsday. Some have theorized that he simply didn't want to get tangled into a super-restrictive record contract that success on the show carries. One current example of this is the inability of Chris Daughtry's former band's to display a picture of him on their website.

But regardless of his reasons were, Vazquez is making his move now.

His first single, "Gallery," a sweet soul ballad written by Ne-Yo, is already climbing the charts in both English and Spanish, having debuted on the Hot 100 at #99, as well as hitting #50 on the Pop 100 and #34 on the Pop 100 Airplay. His debut album is set for release August 29, according to Vazquez's official site, and is packed with producer firepower from the likes of Scott Storch, Soulshock and Luny Tunes.

"[Vazquez] has a voice and charisma that we've been trying to find for a long time," Davis says of the 28-year-old Vazquez.

But his fans already knew that. If Mario is able to build success without jumping through all the show's procedural hoops, he may have pioneered a new path to lasting Idol brilliance.