American Idol Reject Sues Show for $300M, Claims He Was Told to Act "Gay"

A man who auditioned on American Idol a few years ago and upstaged Dane Cook on this year’s season finale is suing the show for 300 million dollars, claiming he was instructed to act flamboyantly gay in front of the camera, causing him emotional injuries as a result. TMZ.com reports Ian Benardo, who exchanged insults with Simon Cowell during his audition in 2006, claims in a document filed Monday with the New York State Equal Employment Opportunity Commission that producers “exploited” his sexual orientation by telling him to “gay it up.”

Benardo says he received similar orders prior to this year’s finale, during which he snatched a microphone away from Dane Cook as the comedian was performing a song about Cowell. Benardo proceeded to tell Cowell he was going to replace him as judge. The show cut to commercial during Benardo’s outburst.

Benardo alleges that producers advised him to quickly leave the building following the incident with Cook because he was “not safe” there. Specifically, a producer allegedly told him that Cook wanted to “shove this mic up your ass but you would like it.” 

Benardo seeks 300 million dollars for emotional injuries and loss of employment opportunities.

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