May 20, 2013
Hip-hop clothing maker 205 Flava Incorporated's owners say they secretly paid singer Ruben Studdard to wear its bright jerseys on "American Idol," despite a ban by the program on such deals.
An attorney for owners Willie and Frederick Jenkins responded yesterday to a lawsuit filed by Studdard last week accusing the brothers of wrongly profiting from his image as the second "American Idol" winner.
The Jenkins' attorney, at a news conference, showed copies of $10,000 in checks made out to Studdard's brother, Kevin Studdard, and his manager, Ron Edwards.
Attorney LaVeeda Morgan Battle, who spoke on behalf of the Jenkins brothers, said Studdard told them to keep the matter confidential because the Fox network prohibits "American Idol" contestants from entering into contracts while on the show.
Studdard refused to comment on the accusations.
Studdard's lawsuit says it was his idea to print 205 in large numbers across the jerseys. Battle said that design was used before Studdard ever wore them.
