American Idol Producer Accused Of Enforcing 'Sweatshop Conditions'

Three former employees at Fremantle Media, which producers American Idol, have accused the company of making them work under “sweatshop” conditions.

In a lawsuit filed at Los Angeles County Superior Court, the workers claim they were forced to work seven days a week, for up to 20 hours a day.

Fremantle then used a “fraudulent scheme” where the workers were told to falsify their time cards so they would not receive overtime, the lawsuit states.

The lawsuit, filed on behalf of past and current employees, includes a music coordinator who worked on American Idol and a producer from the US quiz show Temptation, according to the BBC.

Lawyer Jonathan Biddle said."There's no Hollywood glamour for the below-the-line people who work on American Idol and other reality shows, who are grossly underpaid, worked 24/7 and receive no rest or meal breaks and no health coverage contrary to California labour laws." 

A Fremantle Media spokesperson refused to comment on the lawsuit.

American Idol has launched the careers of the likes of Jennfier Hudson, Kelly Clarkson and David Cook.