"A.I." Contestant Accused of "Masturbating" in Suit

Posted Mar 12th 2007 6:09PM by TMZ Staff

Mario Vazquez Former "American Idol" finalist Mario Vasquez is facing accusations that he tried to masturbate in front of a male employee in a bathroom on the set of the hit show in February 2005.

Shortly thereafter, Vasquez mysteriously dropped out of "Idol," citing personal reasons.

According to the lawsuit filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court and obtained by TMZ, Vazquez allegedly "sexually harassed" Magdaleno Olmos, assistant accountant for Fremantle Media, the company that produces American Idol.

In the lawsuit, Olmos claims "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."

The lawsuit alleges that Vazquez "started to rub his genitals over his pants. Attempting to leave the bathroom, Olmos opened the door of the stall and saw Vazquez standing in front of him with his pants down masturbating."

According to the documents, Vazquez pushed Olmos "further into the stall and continued masturbating with one hand and trying to pull down Olmos' pants with another hand."

Olmos claims that he tried to "cover his body with his hands" but Vazquez touched his "chest and stomach underneath his shirt, and Olmos' "genitals" as Vazquez "attempted to unzip" Olmos' pants.

Vazquez then allegedly asked Olmos "if he wanted oral sex."

In the lawsuit, Olmos claims that as he "managed to get out of the stall, and attempted to leave the bathroom," Vazquez, grabbed his arm "in an effort to stop him." Vazquez continued to call Olmos to come back as Vazquez "stood in the bathroom with his pants still down."

In the suit, Olmos claims that he tried to report the incident to a superior named Eric LaPointe, who allegedly responded by telling Olmos that "he was crazy" and "repeatedly threatening to fire" him. A few months after the incident, Olmos claims he was "terminated."

In addition to suing Vazquez, Olmos has named FOX Entertainment and Fremantle Media as defendants in his lawsuit for wrongful termination.

Reps from FOX tell TMZ, "We haven't been served, but we wouldn't comment on pending litigation."

Calls to Vazquez's attorney, and reps from "American Idol" on behalf of the defendants, have not yet been returned.

Filed under: Celebrity Justice, American Idol

Comments [177]

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(Page 12 of 12)Previous 15 Comments

166. I wished everyone would keep there own nose and ears to there self. And let there mouths keep singing to the world. cherry41

Posted at 2:35PM on Mar 25th 2007 by cherry41

167. I believe this story as much as I believe Ryan Seacrest is not gay!

Posted at 9:36AM on Mar 26th 2007 by Frederic LeBlanc

168. I just do not believe what they are saying about Mario!!! Dude left AI because there was sooo much talent on that show that he was the one that took the bait. As for that "bathroom" incident-- total BS!! They were dating and as soon as Mario blew up his head, he dropped dude. Olmos got fired because he gave them a reason to do it. Think this way, if you're gay "at work" then you REALLY have to work harder than your co workers.

Posted at 10:49PM on Mar 29th 2007 by Real Stud!!

169. Why didn't he just knock the hell out of him,I would not have wasted time with this freak.

Posted at 10:30AM on Mar 30th 2007 by Vickie

170. Mario never struck me as the kind of guy that would do such a horrid thing. Personally, I think that Olmos is just in it for the money. I mean seriously, that story sounds so fake. I don't believe a word of it. Technically, it could happen. But it's just not likely that it actually did happen. Mario is a great singer and I hope that this doesn't screw up his career.
Olmos only wishes that Mario would have done that. He's probably in love with Mario , secretly. He wants what he can't have. lol

Posted at 3:09PM on Mar 30th 2007 by Johnuhten

171. Mario Vazquez sung 3 songs on Cesar's cd "worlds of change"; before American Idol and the sexual harrasment lawsuit against him. I know both for many years, here in Los Angeles. Recently, before the Clive Davis pre grammy party, Cesar asked Mario if he could go so he can finally meet Clive and give him his music. Mario completely ignored Cesar and that shows you what Mario Vazquez is all about! Mario is selfish, self-center and that is why he is not succesful. His album flooped, his career gone. I feel sorry for him.

Daniel

Posted at 12:53AM on Apr 1st 2007 by dan

172. Alright! Two more His-Panties tying up the American judicial system. I'm sure glad that I don't pay taxes.

Posted at 1:47PM on Apr 1st 2007 by Editor

173. Mario Vazquez is so yesterday! His CD sales poorly. His confusing statements about why "he quite" are contradictory. He looks like a selfish cat with two faces. And now the lawsuit that will take his career to an even darker territory. He should think about applying for a "day job" very soon!!!

Posted at 12:00PM on Apr 11th 2007 by daniel

174. Some of you said Mario Vazquez is a hot pop “star” (!!#?)but reality is he hasn’t sell much Cds, his career is a big failure (less than 60,000 albums sold). he is definetly not popular and this lawsuit ain’t gonna make him a mainstream music product.Besides if you filed a lawsuit you must have some kind of proof to make your case and remember Mario is not the only one involved in the suit, there are two big companies involved as well so Magdaleno and his lawyer have something to show in court. Those companies (American Idol, etc) have top dollars lawyers to protect them so something was going on in the show for this to re-surface.
Mario recorded with guitarist Cesar a few years ago on a cd called worlds of change. The album was great(sold 200,000 copies as an independent cd) but Mario distanced himself from that type of songwriting and follow Clive Davis advice. The result was a mediocre album with lots of big names writer/producers that did not reach mass appeal and sounded poor. Whoever thought Mario was going to be the next latin sensation really made the biggest mistake in his music career as an executive (and lost tons of money as well).
Ironically, Clive Davis doors are closed for any talented artist (latin or not) to submit his/her music. He isn’t listening to anything unless is coming from his “buddies” (a la Ne-yo, R. Kelly, Stargate, Fernando Garibay, scott storch, a very few lawyers, etc). Hopefully Mr. Davis learned this lesson and open his mind a bit to make a good change in the must needed music business.

Posted at 11:33AM on Apr 16th 2007 by reggie b.

175. ok look... if this were me... well i wouldnt run crying. the boy is cute, and so what he likes to romp in bathroom stalls. thats what us gays call adventure. much cleaner than the woods, without the dirt, but still dirty.

get over it people, and stop trying to take the boys $10 he got for the CD. he's trying to earn a living, while still being hot.

plus, you should report crimes immediately, not when you realize there's money in it.

Posted at 11:44AM on Apr 24th 2007 by Queen of the Universe

176. I knew he was because I know him from the block in the bronx but I still think whats the big deal! You go Mario!...LOL I will give you a call soon!

Posted at 2:39PM on Jun 5th 2007 by Bronx Boy

177. My opinions: I do believe the bathroom story incident happened. It also happens in clubs and bars (especially gay ones) all the time... I think both parties enjoyed each other's company during that time, and probably Mario didnt return his calls, etc....and after Mario hit it big, the accuser is changing the story around. Why did it take a couple of years for the story to come out?

The incident probably happened around the time Mario called it quits on American Idol. I have a feeling that the producers and staff found out, and forced Mario to leave the show. Then the rumors started that he got a record deal, etc.....but then again, most AI contestants released albums.

Posted at 9:34AM on Nov 15th 2007 by Nicksatyr

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