'American Idol' Contestant Sues MTV For $40 Million

A singer who competed on the second season of 'American Idol,' filed a libel lawsuit on Thursday against MTV Networks for more than $40 million, claiming he was unfairly ridiculed by one of its news reporters.

The lawsuit claims that after Corey Clark was disqualified from 'American Idol,' having reached its 'Top 10' finalists, MTV News correspondent Jim Cantiello falsely attacked Clark as a liar and called for a boycott of his music.

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.

Clark's lawsuit said Cantiello, who wrote for MTV as an expert on 'Idol,' defamed the singer in a series of online posts from early 2007 through July 2011. In them, he described Clark as a 'degenerate,' accused him of lying about the charges, falsely called him an 'alleged sister-beater' after the charges were dropped, and instructed readers to boycott his debut album.

Additionally, 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.

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

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Transgender Contestant Loses Out In Miss Universe Canada, But Makes History Competing

Jenna Talackova did not win the crown, making it to the penultimate Miss Universe Canada pageant round before losing on Saturday. But Talackova made history as she walked the stage in her evening gown and swimsuit.

She became the first transgender female to compete for the title after pageant owner Donald Trump announced Talackova would be able to compete despite the rules. She then became one of four contestants named Miss Congeniality.

The 24-year-old graced the stage in a tight-fitting white backless gown and then a tiny bikini. Standing 6'1, she easily towered over the other 61 competitors, according to a CTV article.

While her competing is seen as a success for the transgender community, not everyone is happy with her being there.

"I think it's good there's attention brought to it but I think it might be outweighing and overshadowing the rest of the competition in general," said Donavon Powell, who was there to cheer on his 24-year-old girlfriend, to the Canadian Press

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Sex Change: Beauty Queen Kicked Out Of Miss Universe Canada Pageant For Been Born A Boy (Photos)

A beauty pageant contestant has been thrown out from a beauty competition after discovering the girl was born a boy.

The Miss Universe Canada organizers threw out Jenna Talackova when they found out she had undergone surgery to become a woman.

The transgendered contestant had already successfully reached the finals in the Miss Vancouver pageant before she was banned from continuing in the competition.

Although the pageant organizers described Talackova as a 'real girl' they disqualified her arguing that the rules state that each contestant must be a 'naturally born female.'

According to Denis Davila, the national director of Miss Universe Canada, Talackova claimed on her registration form she was born a female.

But becoming suspicious Davila confronted the 23-year-old about her sex change and the contestant admitted she was actually born a male.

Despite her pleas to stay in the pageant her confession meant that she was pulled from the contest that same day.

'She feels like a real girl and she is a real girl. She didn't expect people to question it,' Davila told thestar.com.

'She was hoping we could put her back in the competition, but the rules are very clear and there's no way we can go back on it.' 

The decision from the Miss Universe Canada pageant, which is owned by Donald Trump, has sparked outrage with people calling for Jenna to be reinstated into the contest.

People have taken to social media pages to express their disgust with one Facebook user writing on the pageant's page: 'Tell us what "requirements" did she not make? This reeks of discrimination...'

In a YouTube interview Talackova says she knew she was a female at the age of four and began hormone therapy ten years later.

And the 23-year-old beauty queen, who has competed in Miss Universe pageants and transgendered pageants before, says that she surgically changed her gender aged 19.

'I regard myself as a woman with a history,' Talackova says winking to the camera.

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