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Paula Abdul quits American Idol

After protracted contract negotiations, Paula Abdul ain't returning to America's biggest TV show.

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PaulaAbdulPaula Abdul is not returning to American Idol.

Her announcement, made on Twitter no less, follows some public statements that negotiations had not been completed.

On her Twitter feed, Abdul said:

“With sadness in my heart, I’ve decided not to return to Idol …I’ll miss nurturing all the new talent, but most of all being a part of a show that I helped from Day 1 become an international phenomenon … What I want to say most, is how much I appreciate the undying support and enormous love that you have showered upon me … It truly has been breathtaking, especially over the past month … I do without any doubt have the BEST fans in the entire world and I love you all.” (That’s one very long Tweet).

FOX, FremantleMedia and 19 Entertainment confirmed Abdul’s departure in a statement:

“Paula Abdul has been an important part of the American Idol family over the last eight seasons, and we are saddened that she has decided not to return to the show. While Paula will not be continuing with us, she’s a tremendous talent and we wish her the best.”

Sources say Abdul asked for about $20 million to continue with the show. She rejected a 30% raise; an eight-figure multi-year deal.

Earlier this week, producers had re-signed Kara DioGuardi -but can she stand up and dance in the bizarre way Abdul used to do?

It won’t quite be the same without watching Simon Cowell flirt with Abdul, even though it was kinda banal at the same time. Cowell, who has indicated he may leave at the end of his current deal, is already talking to producers for a new contract, reportedly seeking more than $100 million a year.

Host Ryan Seacrest has already agreed to return with a three-year $45 million new deal.

Ryan Seacrest sent a Twitter message of his own: “About to go to sleep when I started seeing my Blackberry blow up. I have read what you have read and I am shocked and saddened about Paula.”

‘Shocked and saddened?’ Somebody should let Seacrest know she isn’t actually d-e-a-d.

Now then, this clears the way for rumours about Abdul as a candidate for Australian Idol. Yeah, right.

Source: Hollywood Reporter

12 Responses

  3. Typical bone headed move of someone who’s self important and not seeing the way the world works.

    Was anyone looking for Paula Abdul or care before idol? her career was over… it brought it back but no one will care once she’s off the show. The only judge who is irreplaceable is Simon. Paula should have been happy with the millions she was getting and this is obviously about her wanting a big pay day, with the likes of Simon and Ryan, which she would never get. While I don’t think Ryan is needed, he’s harder to replace as he works well with the show, so why change it up?
    Paula for all her judging, anyone could do that, they already had her replacement on the show last year,…

    Now she can fade of into obscurity.

    I bet this isn’t the last we hear and there’ll be bitching about Simon. She is nice to everyone on the show, except to the one person who was responsible for her having any relevance today, and not knowing her place has lead her to this boneheaded move. Seriously… rejecting 10 or so million for a few months work…. please… where will she ever earn anything close to that ever again?? No where!

  4. Abdul was so high on something-or-other that she wasn’t “there” for most of the show anyway. And how, exactly, did she help the show to “become an international phenomenon”?

  6. Nobody should be surprised – as soon as they signed Kara up last year it was obvious Paula would soon be out of the door. I’m surprised she lasted this long to be honest.

  9. @Ruth – They may very well be paid too much, but i think they deserve to get a cut of the shows profits…. why should FOX be making all the money…. It is the biggest show in America…. It would make the network a s**tload of cash!!

    And Aus Idol couldnt afford Paula’s fees….. Her cut alone would cost more than the show costs to produce.

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