Contestants Who Unexpectedly Quit American Idol

In 2005, Season 4 of "American Idol" boasted one of its strongest ever group of Top 12 finalists, which included eventual winner (and hitmaker) Carrie Underwood, future Broadway star Constantine Maroulis, and Billboard-charting hard rocker Bo Bice. Charismatic singer (and dancer) Mario Vasquez was originally part of the Top 12, but dropped out of "American Idol" before the finals because of "personal reasons." According to MTV News, Vasquez addressed rumors that he'd had a disagreement with producers or a fight with another contestant, telling New York TV station Fox 5 that his decision "had nothing to do with the contract for anything at all. I just needed to take care of some things in my life that needed to be focused on."

Two years later, the reasons behind Vasquez's sudden and inscrutable departure from the star-making "American Idol" were arguably made a little more clear. According to MTV News, Magdaleno Olmos, an assistant production accountant on "American Idol," filed suit in 2007 against the show's production companies. Olmos alleged that "Vasquez sexually harassed him" in 2005, and after he reported it, he was fired and Vasquez quit. 

The judge in the case later "granted a defense motion to send the case to arbitration," according to Fox affiliate KKTV (via Reality TV World), citing Olmos' contract with "American Idol" production house FreemantleMedia, which reportedly stipulated arbitrations over lawsuits for all "disputes."

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