Former American Idol contestant Corey Clark sues MTV

MARIA SAEED

 

KARACHI: Former American Idol contestant Corey Clark, who is more famous for being kicked off the show than actually being on it, is suing MTV for defamation after he claims one of their reporters repeatedly defamed him. He is said to be seeking damages in the region of $40 million for his troubles.

 

Clark had filed lawsuit against MTV stating that he was unfairly ridiculed by one of their reporters. Jim Cantiello, an MTV news reporter described the singer as a liar and asked for a boycott of his music.

 

Cantiello has gone the extra mile and called Clark a “degenerate” and an “alleged sister beater,” and even though the charges were dropped, has claimed “that don’t mean a thing.”

 

In addition, the lawsuit states that Cantiello repeatedly ridiculed Clark about a relationship with Idol Judge Paula Abdul, saying Clark had invented the romance. The lawsuit claims Clark and Abdul were, in fact, involved.

 

Clark was disqualified on March 31, 2003, after Idol officials learned he had faced three misdemeanor charges, including one battery charge involving his sister. He was later acquitted of two of the three charges and pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice, the lawsuit said.

 

MTV's parent company, Viacom Inc, also was named in the suit, which was filed in Tennessee District Court in Nashville.