The father of 2004 American Idol winner Fantasia Barrino's has brought a $10m suit against Simon & Schuster, the New York publishing house, who have recently released a biography of the reality show victor, which, Joseph Barrino says, is libellous. Claiming that the book contains "false, exaggerated, sensational, intentional and malicious untruths", he also alleges it was ghost written by Barrino's grandmother Addie Collins.
Mr Barrino's lawyer, Kendall Minter, said of the biography, entitled 'Life Is Not a Fairy Tale': "The unfortunate publication of Fantasia's life story by Simon & Schuster seeks to capitalise on her American Idol success through disparaging certain members of her family. The lawsuit seeks to redress these wrongs and restore the integrity of the family members."
Fantasia's first album 'Free Yourself' has sold more than two million copies in the US, and received four Grammy nominations.