In news that will disappoint many fans, Paula Abdul has confirmed that she will not be returning to American Idol. New judge Kara DioGuardi will be on the show next season along with Randy and Simon. It is thought that Idol producers refused to meet Abdul’s salary demands, something that her manager made clear a little over two weeks ago when he said that he had not received a proposal from Idol and that Paula was “hurt,” and “angry” at the snub. He called producers’ lack of an offer “unconscionable and certainly rude and disrespectful” to Paula, who has been on the show for eight seasons.
Sources tell Fox News’ Pop Tarts that Paula was eventually given a contract, but it must have fallen short of the rumored $20 million she was said to have wanted a year, which would have doubled her salary. Paula tweeted yesterday that she’ll be leaving, and she thanked her fans for their support:
After weeks of speculation surrounding Paula Abdul’s fate as a judge on “American Idol”, it has now been made official — the former pop princess will not be returning to the hit FOX reality series.
“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 I’ll miss being a part of a show that I helped from day1become an international phenomenon,” Abdul wrote on her Twitter page Tuesday night. “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.”
According to a source close to the “Opposites Attract” starlet, she was offered a contract by FOX and it was her decision to turn it down.
“Paula is actually handling the situation really well, she is in great spirits,” a close source told Pop Tarts. “She has so many offers and opportunities and has been in New York this week taking meetings.”
Another source said that while the judges had shown the contestants great support through the years it was Abdul who was the one who stayed in closest contact, calling and constantly being there for the finalists as they branched out into the music world.
FOX, FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment released a statement on Tuesday night expressing their sadness over Abdul’s departure.
“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.”
[From Fox News’ Pop Tarts]
Paula is wacky as anything, but she was an important counterbalance to Simon’s nastiness and Randy’s wishy-washy judging. It always seems like Randy is deferring to Simon and doesn’t have a real opinion of his own. Kara comes across as so full of herself and I found it very telling when she got competitive with that bikini girl, insisting on singing the song herself. She has a lot of experience in the industry but the song she wrote for last season’s winner, Kris Allen, got panned and was dropped from the tour. I don’t think she’s a bankable commodity at all. People love Paula because she has a heart and she’s genuine. Idol producers should have thought of the fans instead of letting their business issues with Paula cloud their judgment. The show just won’t be the same without her.
Paula Abdul is shown outside The Late Show on 6/4/09. Credit: Fame Pictures
Came down with a sudden allergy to a steady paycheck, huh ?
I’m certainly surprised considering Simon said that Paula was not leaving. She was my favorite judge even though she was getting pretty bizarre.
I haven’t watched the show in years but I always enjoyed her brand of crazy. I hope she brings back her reality show, that was hysterical.
Serves her right for demanding £20 Million, that is a stupid amount of money for anyone and pure greed.
They need to fix this and get Paula back. I love the show, but without any of the 3 original judges it just won’t be the same. It’s not like they can’t afford it; just give her more money and get her back under contract.
Oh, and get rid of Cara. I don’t hate her, but she adds nothing interesting or valuable to the show.
I guess they run out of money since Simon has been granted a payraise to 100 million dollars. Now that is greed!
So sad. I loved to listen to her incoherent ramblings. There was always a spark of truth in there somewhere. She did balance out the other two.
I don’t feel that her asking for a raise is being greedy at all. They are paying Simon (understandable) and Ryan ridiculous amounts and yet she can’t ask to be compensated more as well?
I also hate how AI pulled a “Barabara Walters” by inviting a new lady onto the show hoping for it to cause drama with the person they are trying to get rid of and presto the person quits without them having to actually fire her. It’s so cliche and I hate when people pit two women against each other in this way. Its just not a good look.
In this day and age, all these Hollywood types would do well to shut their mouths and take whatever money they can get. After all, it isn’t like Paula is out there curing cancer or saving the planet, she is a judge on a show. If the others got better contracts, well that says something about their popularity and their attny’s negotiating skills. Simon got a big chuck of the pie because he owns part of the show. People are losing their jobs every day in this country and this woman has to whine and try to get sympathy because she cannot get 20mil? Give me a break.
Say it aint so!That Cara chick is the worse!It was clear to me last season that she wanted to be in the spotlight as a contestant herself instead of a judge and ended up looking like a weirdo.The saddest part is my girlfriends and I have been getting together every Tuesday night since Idol started for a watch party.Now I think I will find something else to do.We love you Paula!
I am really, really sorry to hear this. Good luck, Paula. You will really be missed.
Paula Paula Paula. I will not be watching this season (except the try-outs to see if my friend made it on tv).
I hope maybe Kara will tone it down though after seeing the backlash she got last season. almost NOBODY likes. And that “song” she wrote was a complete joke.
The best winner song they ever had was Kelly’s, though the year they let the fans right was pretty decent.
all in all, Idol watch your viewership plummet. WE DON”T like the changes, we hate the new format and we DESPISE Kara and your lack of empathy and loyalty to the woman who helped make your show a success.
didn’t this happen in the last negotiations as well? They ‘forgot to contact her’ she was hurt. Then they went round and round over salary. She gave interviews saying they couldn’t reach an agreement, she was leaving.
Then she got the salary she was acting for…
I seen the handwriting on the wall last year, when they hired that godawful Kara chick!! The producers were going to cut Paula out of the show.
YES! Paula has been a waste of space on this show for years. She can’t bring herself to say anything negative about the performers, even when they obviously suck. What kind of judge is that?
It would be great if the show focused less on wacky antics and more on the talent of the contestants.
She needed $20 million to be the drunk judge of a karaoke contest? And she already got $10 million to be the drunk judge of a karaoke contest?
Life isn’t fair.
I hope her reality show comes back, i never had so many laughs in my life!!
but seriously, I think the whole Ryan Seacrest era, is not worth a dime he gets paid..
He must know something or be doing someone–cause he is not all of that..
a queen in hiding…but a paid one.
It just won’t be the same without Paula. Watch it evaporate after one season without her.
Simon Cowell does not own Idol, Simon FULLER does. Paula has been there since day one and why shouldn’t she be a part of the huge pay increase plan? Ryan gets 45 mil Simon gets 100 mil and Paula gets 4 mil? Hardly fair. Life isn;t fair, but Paula brings alot to the show, she’s the nice one, she’s the crazy one and it’s fun to watch. Kara on the other hand is like watching paint dry. And no one ever talks about Randy. This is going to change the dynamic of the show and it won;t be as entertaining. Interesting too that the men get big raises and the woman doesn’t.
she’s the only interesting one on that show. i loved watching her drugged out rants… cowell is just so predictable…. why would they kick her out? women always get the short end of the stick in business matters :/
Now she can do dancing with the stars!
Honestly…I’m glad she’s off. I can’t stand how everyone sits there pretending not to notice that she’s slurring her words and totally unable to formulate a thought half the time.
It’s disturbing.
I know she has a history of chronic pain and that she’s probably managing it with narcotics legitimately prescribed…but she is high or drunk ALL the time. I have chronic pain and am on discretionary vicodin. I am almost NEVER on enough of it to impair my speech or mental clarity, and I don’t take any at all on days I don’t need it. Paula was out of it almost every single show last season.
I’m glad she’s gone. She needs to stop working and get herself in check. I’m tired of all these fabulously talented (and Paula is a fabulously talented woman) people dying of drug overdose or bad drug mixtures or what-all else.
I’m glad she’s gone. I fast forward through her comments anyway. Have for years. She has become more and more irrelevant as time has gone on and it’s about time. I don’t like Kara, but I like her input. At least she has something helpful to say and would probably be less obnoxious if Simon wasn’t always talking over her.
Woo Hoo!!!!! Oh that’s right I never watch American Idol.