Phillip Phillips (Photo : REUTERS/CARLO ALLEGRI)
Phillip Phillips filed a complaint to California Labor Commissioner against "American Idol's" co-producer and developer, Daily Mail reported.
The singer submitted the complaint on Jan. 22 saying that 19 Entertainment, which is the show's producer, "manipulated" him to accept workloads such as performing for free for one of the contest's sponsors. Phillips also claimed that he was unaware of the title of his latest album before it was published.
The singer wants to negate his contract with 19 Entertainment since, according to his lawyer, it is "oppressive and fatally conflicted." Despite the charges, Phillips said that he is thankful for the opportunities that he gained from being"American Idol" alum, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
The 21-year-old explained that the importance he felt from the fans and the show in terms of his career is something he will not forget but he felt that he was not able to steer his profession in his preferred direction. Phillips aims to decide for his career on his own terms and make music for the fans.
Even before Phillips was hailed as the winner for the eleventh season of "American Idol," he already signed several contracts with 19 Entertainment founded by Simon Fuller. Reports say that in every performance of the singer, the entertainment company gets 40 percent of the total pay.
In addition, the complaint stated that the company has "fudiciary" responsibility to Phillips. This means that the singer trusts 19 Entertainment to take care of his income for him and the studio takes care of Phillips when it comes to his career. However, the "Gone Gone Gone" singer claimed that the agreement has been breached since he was forced to take jobs that are more beneficial for the company.
On the other hand, 19 Entertainment released an official statement saying that they are "proud" of Phillip's success. They worked together with the singer to help him explore his talent and improve his career path. The company said Phillip's interest is what they are after but they will also defend themselves from unjustified claims.
Amidst conflicts with 19 Entertainment, Phillips has a series of shows in the coming months. The singer will perform in Orillia and Windsor, Ontario, Canada on Jan. 30 and 31 respectively.
