E! Online has a very interesting sort-of conspiracy theory that Paula Abdul isn’t leaving Idol at all and that her exit was orchestrated for maximum publicity. It’s even possible that Idol producers are in on it, they claim. E! has a rundown of the possible evidence that Paula isn’t leaving at all and that we’ll soon be seeing her back on the hit show.

I don’t think that’s true for a few reasons, primarily because Paula and Idol producers have a long-standing beef that was most apparent when she trash talked them to the press for letting her stalker audition. That doesn’t mean that Paula is definitely leaving, just that it probably wasn’t a big ploy for ratings. TMZ has a brief but probably accurate account of events, and in their version Paula abruptly stepped away from negotiations by Tweeting that she was leaving the show. She may have regretted it afterwards, but Idol honchos took her seriously and issued a press release confirming the news. (TMZ’s account is supported by MSNBC’s The Scoop column, which also mentions that Paula’s departure was a surprise.)

As we already reported, we’re told Paula was pulling in somewhere between $2 and $3 million a year and she wanted more. Our sources say “A.I.” made her an offer that she didn’t like at all. Paula countered but producers didn’t want to pay that much, so they countered with another offer.

Rather than responding to the second offer, Paula shocked everyone by tweeting her goodbye. The weirdest thing … “A.I.” took the tweet seriously and responded with an official sayonara.

We’re told Paula made it especially difficult during the negotiations because she changed management twice.

One person at “Idol” called her reaction “an emotional tweet.” You don’t learn that in law school.

As for what she’ll do, we’re told producer Nigel Lythgoe has given her a standing offer to be a guest judge on “So You Think You Can Dance.” Here’s what we’re thinking — he’d kill to make her a regular.

[From TMZ]

TMZ also reported that Paula was upset that she was still making 2-3 million a year while Ryan Secrest just signed that $45 million, three year contract. I don’t agree that entertainers should make that insane amount of money, but on the other hand Paula is just as valuable to the franchise as Ryan and deserves equitable pay. The National Enquirer reported last month that Paula wanted $20 million a year, but they also claimed she was making $10 million with her existing contract. That figure doesn’t jibe with TMZ’s report.

As for what’s next for Paula, Radar Online is reporting that she’s working on developing a Las Vegas variety show in the vein of Cirque du Soleil and that she’s considering a stint on “So You Think You Can Dance.” I still think that Idol producers really screwed up by playing hardball, but it seems like the decision to leave the show was ultimately Paula’s. Whether it’s final or not, we’ll have to wait and see.

Meanwhile Idol producers are lining up some celebrity judges to bring interest to the show. Victoria Beckham is set to appear next season, but just for one episode.

Paula Abdul is shown outside Beso restaurant on 6/27/09. Credit: PRPhotos