Singer says American Idol wanted a ‘token trans’ contestant
The Producers behind hit US talent contest American Idol have been accused of exploiting the transgender identity of Ryan Cassata, a 21-year-old musician who unsuccessfully auditioned for the program last October.
Cassata said producers judged his performance as “not contemporary enough” and cast him aside like the many other hopefuls who have put their dreams on the line.
But in an open letter to American Idol casting directors published to his Youtube account, Cassata said the rise of media figures like Caitlyn Jenner saw him field persistent and ongoing invitations by a casting director to re-audition for the show’s 2016 – and final – season.
“This year I see what American Idol is all about – another pre-casted show that is looking for singers to boost their ratings, and now they just need that token trans person for America to gossip about, to hype up the show,” he said.
“I realised that you only want me because I’m a transgender person who happens to be a singer, not because I’m a singer who just happens to be transgender.”
Cassata adds that producers were only looking for the right kind of transgender person, and not someone that “sticks out like a sore thumb”.
“You also referred to trans people as men in dresses and trans genders. That is very ignorant and transphobic,” he said.
“You told me that American Idol wants sexual blonde girls who are dumb, and black girls who are dramatic. That is sexist, and racist. I questioned whether the show was a singing show or not, and you said that it’s a TV show.”
By appearing on the program, Cassata felt that he would be exploited by American Idol alongside the transgender community for ratings and profit.
“That’s not the right reason to go on television and that’s not the right thing to do for my community.”
Cassata’s YouTube channel, with more than 23,000 subscribers, features video and songs about issues affecting the trans community.
Responding in a statement in The Guardian, American Idol producers said the program “searches far and wide to ensure that talent in any part of the country has a chance to audition”.
“Our audition team has often reached out to former participants to audition again. Many find that their voice improves over a year and they have greater success in their second or third attempt.
“American Idol is about finding great talent and the show welcomes diversity in its participants. We will look into the veracity of the statements in Ryan Cassata’s open letter.”
Words by TROY NANKERVIS.