'American Idol' Racist? 10 Eliminated Black Contestants Suing FOX Reality Show for Discrimination After Getting Booted From Competition

Ten African-American former American Idol contestants from various seasons are suing the hit FOX reality competition for racial discrimination. The individuals claim that they were kicked off the TV show due to their race.

TMZ first reported about the group lawsuit, wherein the former competitors claim that the Idol producers conducted "cruel and inhumane" schemes to exploit them for ratings by digging up criminal records and personal histories. The 10 are suing for discrimination and other alleged misdeeds. They want $25 million each, because they felt they lost the chance to win the star-making TV show and they claim the show "ruined their lives" and reputations.

Corey Clark (Season 2), Jaered Andrews (Season 2), Jacob John Smalley (Season 2), Donnie Williams (Season 3), Terrell Brittenum (Season 5), Derrell Brittenum (Season 5), Thomas Daniels (Season 6), Akron Watson (Season 6), Ju'Not Joyner (Season 8) and Chris Golightly (Season 9) are the plaintiffs.

Frenchie Davis (Season 2), who was booted from the show when it was revealed she had posed nude for an adult website, and Jermaine Jones (Season 11), who was removed for being arrested twice and having warrants out for his arrests, are not included in the lawsuit.

"I am offended they tried to paint me as a victim of discrimination," Jones told TMZ earlier this year. "I appreciate the experience from Idol and embraced the good and bad from it."

The plaintiffs' lawyer is claiming that only black contestants have been kicked off the show for their past.

However, Joanna Pacatti was removed from the show in Season 8 for ties to the entertainment industry, according to The Huffington Post.

American Idol has had four African-American winners: Ruben Studdard (Season 2), Fantasia Barrino (Season 3), Jordin Sparks (Season 6) and, most recently, Candice Glover (Season 12).

FOX and American Idol's lawyers have yet to comment on the lawsuit.