Friday October 12, 2007
Jordin Sparks performs on
American Idol's sixth season finale on May 23, 2007 at Hollywood's Kodak Theater.
Frank Micelotta/Fox
It may be America's favorite reality program, but not even Idol is exempt from the law - child labor law, to be exact.
The New York Daily News is reporting that 19 Touring failed to apply for the necessary permits for Jordin Sparks, who turns 18 in December, and now 18-year-old Sanjaya Malakar (who was underage at the time of the performances), when the Idol concert tour came to New York last month.
As a result of a reported 16 violations of the New York State Child Performer Labor Law, 19 Touring has agreed to fork over $5,000 in fines.
Sparks and Malakar joined the rest of the top ten Idol contestants for five New York-area appearances during the tour, which wrapped on Sept. 22. Under the state's new law, employers must file for permits in order to ensure they are following proper child labor, education and workers' compensation protocol, the News reports.
"One of our clerical staff - who was actually a fan of the show - [heard] that these performers were, in fact, under 18, and so she did some digging and referred that over to our investigators," Labor Department spokesman Leo Rosales told the News.
A representative for 19 Management, which operates 19 Touring, did not return a call seeking comment.
Sparks' debut album is set for release Nov. 20, and Idol's seventh season will launch in January.