Ten people who have previously appeared as contestants on American Idol are suing the show claiming that they were discriminated against racially.

The former contestants: Corey Clark, Jaered Andrews, Jacob John Smalley, Donnie Williams, Thomas Daniels, Akron Watson, Ju’Not Joyner, Chris Golightly, and Terrell and Derrell Brittenum and James H. Freeman, the lawyer representing the group first bought the case forward in January.

Freeman wrote to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission on behalf of the group claiming that they had been treated in a “cruel and inhumane” and that the show perpetuated "destructive stereotypes" of the African-American contestants.

The complaint also stated that only 10 contestants have been thrown off the show in its history and that all of those were African-American.

Freeman also pointed out on behalf of the group that only four out of 12 American Idol winners have been either black or mixed race and they are Ruben Studdard, Fantasia Barrino, Jordin Sparks, and Candice Glover.

In addition to that fact, out of the contestants seeking legal action, only Clark, Smalley, and Joyner ever made it to the voting rounds although Clark was later asked to leave the show after it emerged that he had previously been arrested on battery charges.

Each of the contestants is seeking $25 million in damages.