Mario Vazquez
Photo: Getty Images/ Thos Robinson

New light may be shed on the "personal reasons" for which "American Idol" contestant Mario Vazquez surprisingly quit the singing competition two years ago.

In a lawsuit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on Friday, a former assistant production accountant for the show alleges Vazquez sexually harassed him and that he was fired for telling a supervisor.

Magdaleno Olmos, who is specifically suing for wrongful termination and violation of California's Fair Employment and Housing Act, is seeking unspecified compensatory and punitive damages. Vazquez and the show's owners — American Idol Productions Inc., Fremantle Media North America Inc., Fox Entertainment Group Inc. and Fox Broadcasting Co. — are named as defendants.

A spokesperson for Fox said the network has yet to be served with the lawsuit, "but we wouldn't comment on pending litigation." Spokespeople for Vazquez, including his lawyer, did not immediately reply to requests for comment.

Vazquez, the only "Idol" finalist to ever drop out, had been very vague on his departure, with comments such as "I just needed to take care of some things in my life that needed to be focused on" (see "Mario Vazquez Quits 'Idol' — 'It Wasn't Right For Me' ").

In his lawsuit, Olmos claims the fourth-season contestant withdrew from the show after the accountant came forward to executives.

The suit also describes in detail an incident in which Vazquez allegedly followed Olmos into a restroom at CBS Studios, where "American Idol" is taped, and "knocked on the door of the plaintiff's stall and made eye contact through the space in the stall door."

When he opened the door, Vazquez became physical with Olmos and asked if he wanted to have sex, according to the lawsuit.

Olmos, who had worked for American Idol Productions since October 2002, claims he later went to a supervisor, who questioned whether he initiated the incident. He was allegedly told nothing could be done, that he would probably be fired, "that he was crazy, was imagining this and should keep this information to himself because no one would believe his account," according to his lawsuit.

He alleges he was fired in May, although that is also when the show wraps each season.

Vazquez released his debut album in the fall on J Records, the same label that traditionally releases "Idol" winners' albums (see " 'Idol' Dropout Mario Vazquez Shows 'Grittier' Side On Debut, Hopes For Spot On Christina Tour").

[This story was originally published at 8:38 p.m. ET on 03.12.2007]

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Mario Vazquez
Photo: Evan Agostini/ Getty Images

Who needs Randy, Paula and Simon when you have Fat Joe, Ne-Yo and Scott Storch in your corner?

Mario Vazquez, the only "American Idol" finalist ever to drop out of the show (back in season four), has added more big names for his self-titled debut, due September 26.

As the follow-up to his Ne-Yo-penned first single, "Gallery" (see "Ne-Yo, Baby Bash Join 'Idol' Dropout Mario Vazquez On Debut"), Vazquez will release "Cohiba," produced by Scott Storch, written by Sean "The Pen" Garrett and featuring Fat Joe and Knox.

"It's the club jam," Vazquez said of the tune, named after a brand of Cuban cigars. "It's much grittier. There's some innuendo and there's a side of me I don't think 'Idol' fans have known before. It's definitely much more rhythmic."

Vazquez also collaborated on the album with veteran producers Johnta Austin, the Underdogs, Lester Mendez, Steve Morales and Soulshock & Karlin.

"It's basically everything that I love, all different genres of music such as R&B, hip-hop, reggaetón, pop, some Motown," Vazquez said. "It's a mix of everything, and I think coming from New York, we need that. New York being the melting pot, the album is a melting pot of different sounds.

"I'm proud of the project," he added. "My sound came through."

Vazquez just finished the Rock 'N Shop Mall Tour with Ashley Parker Angel and is eyeing a big fall outing.

"We're in talks of maybe being the second act to open for Christina Aguilera when she goes overseas," Vazquez said. "My fingers are crossed for that."

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Mario Vazquez (file)
Photo: Kevin Winter

One of the favored finalists in this year's "American Idol" final 12, Mario Vazquez, abruptly took himself out of the running over the weekend with little explanation, FOX announced Sunday.

Vazquez, whose signature hat, smooth dance steps and bright smile made him a favorite of fans and judge Paula Abdul, cited "personal reasons" for his departure but did not elaborate on the specifics.

Confused fans immediately took to the "American Idol" message boards, speculating about Vazquez's reason, which seemed shadier after he told TV Guide on Sunday it was for "family reasons" — but then New York's FOX affiliate contacted the singer's mother and she was unaware that her son had left the show.

Vazquez, however, appeared Monday morning on "Good Day New York," on New York's FOX 5, and squashed rumors of a feud with "American Idol" producers or any of his competitors.

" 'American Idol' was only positive. They were only wonderful to me, from the beginning through the middle, to the end," he told the show. "It had nothing to do with the contract or anything at all. I just needed to take care of some things in my life that needed to be focused on."

Vazquez said he wanted to surprise his mother but the media beat him to the punch. "I wanted to tell her face to face and let her know it was OK," he said.

As for his "personal reasons," Vazquez declined to elaborate.

"I know I disappointed many fans, but it's all for the best, it really is, and I hope they know and understand and respect my privacy with that as well," he said. "It was a very, very hard decision, just thinking about everyone in the competition, who are my friends first, before competitors. It was a lot to think about, but my intuition told me I need to focus on personal things in my life. That meant I couldn't continue in the competition."

Vazquez did let it slip to the FOX affiliate that he "had some feelings, thinking about the process," and that "it wasn't right for me."

The singer, who will continue to make press rounds Monday in New York, said his fellow contestants were devastated when he told them the news. "We all made good friends, especially with Nadia [Turner], Anwar [Robinson], Mikalah [Gordon], everybody," Vazquez said. "People are speculating, but there wasn't a catfight at all. ... I didn't want to put a damper on the show. It's such a great opportunity. ... I told them to go for it."

Once Vazquez "takes care of his business," he said he would continue pursuing his passion for music. "This isn't the last you've heard from Mario Vazquez," he promised.

Vazquez is still under contract with 19 Entertainment, although spokespeople for the show were not immediately able to reveal details of the contract. Past contestants have said the contract forbids them from signing with another manager or record label unless they are released from 19.

On Wednesday, Vazquez admitted to MTV News that he had not seen much of "American Idol" before (see "The 'American Idol' Final-12 Party: Nerves, Shock And ... Justin Guarini?"). "To be totally honest, I saw bits and pieces, usually the finales," he said.

Vazquez was second to Carrie Underwood on MTVNews.com's poll of which singer was projected to win "American Idol," and his voice had been widely praised. "It comes out naturally, and I'm glad that people are liking it," he responded last week. "It's just making me believe they really, really like me. So it's all good."

The departure of Vazquez paved the way for one of the men dismissed last week, Nikko Smith (see "Shocker Shakes Up 'Idol' As Final 12 Are Chosen"), to jump back into the competition. Smith was ousted along with Travis Tucker, but because he received more votes than Tucker, he was the judges' pick to return.

The competition has been whittled down to six men and six women, with the finalists going head-to-head for the first time this season on Tuesday night. The results show will air on Wednesday.

Vazquez told FOX 5 he will be rooting for Robinson and Turner. "Anwar has an amazing voice, and Nadia, every time she performed, she had me out of my seat," he said.

While Vazquez is the first finalist to voluntarily remove himself from the show, the competition has seen the early exit of several performers in the past, most due to background issues that were not revealed in the early vetting process.

One of season two's 32 finalists, Jaered Andrews, was charged with assault in connection with a bar fight and disqualified from the show; he was subsequently acquitted of the charges. That same season, Corey Clark made it into the top 10 only to be eliminated when producers found out about a past assault allegation (see " 'Idol' Dismisses Corey Clark After Battery Charges Surface"), and another top contender, Frenchie Davis, was booted after it was discovered she had posed topless on an adult Web site (see " 'American Idol' Steps Up Screening Process For Contestants"). Last year, Donnie Williams was disqualified following an arrest on suspicion of drunk driving.

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