Paula: Gimme a Birthday Hug, Kids! Now!

16. C'mon TMZ, I love your website, and I've always thought your news to be pretty accurate. While I'm not a HUGE Paula fan, she's clearly just being friendly, and her hugs were very short and sweet. To suggest anything else is proof that it's a slow news day.

Posted at 1:05PM on Jun 20th 2007 by Liz

17. Happy Happy Birthday Paula - and many many more! You look fabulous in the clip, and it looked like you were having a good (i.e. pain-free) day.

Hey post #9 - were YOU there to verify those people were "dirty, smelly"? Or are you just another one of those bigoted racist people who thinks anyone who isn't "white" is trash.

Posted at 1:13PM on Jun 20th 2007 by Dancin Gran

18. "14. She's on something."

Yes, her feet........and I'm surprised.

Posted at 1:20PM on Jun 20th 2007 by Underwired

19. Why is it that every time an adult hugs a child, the rest of society cries "Pedophile!"? I remember a time not so long ago when we could actually hug our teachers, family, and friends without having someone try to make something perverted of it. Most people (children and adults) LIKE hugs because it releases chemicals in the body that makes them feel happy. Don't believe that? Do your own research and see.

Not only that, but most children would be honored to get a hug from a big celebrity like Paula. I'm not a fan of hers, but believe me, it is a huge thing for a child to be able to say they hugged Paula Abdul. Heck, it's a big thing for most adults too. Try to imagine being a child. Wouldn't you love to be able to tell all your classmates that you got to hug Paula Abdul? She was only being nice, and for this, TMZ insinuates that she was somehow wronging the children? The road to hell surely is paved with good intentions!

The hug was too long? Exactly how long is a hug supposed to be in order to be deemed appropriate and who gets to determine that? And did it ever occur to anyone that the hugs these children received from Paula may be the only hugs these children have had (or will have) in a long time? As we all know, not all children come from loving homes.

If it's a hug, and ONLY A HUG (no matter how long it is), why make such an issue of it? Let's try to get back to believing in innocence, otherwise we're going to have a sterile, COLD society where children will receive no kindness or affection of any kind from anyone. Leave Paula alone this time. She wasn't hurting anybody and if you think she was, then maybe you need to re-evaluate what exactly it is that you have such a problem with. Some people just love to have something to complain about, and I think that TMZ is just looking for something, anything to make Paula look bad here. Usually, Paula manages to tarnish her own reputation perfectly well by herself with no help from anyone, but really, give her a break on this one. It isn't a crime to show some kindness towards children, although it soon may be if this kind of nonsense continues.

Posted at 1:40PM on Jun 20th 2007 by Anonymous

20. post 17 who said any thing about race? post 9 didnt say any thing racist.

Posted at 2:54PM on Jun 20th 2007 by stoper

21. Let's swarm her for hugging a few kids. Unbelievable: slow day for vultures?
Uh, maybe Paula is being kind, magnanimous and loving? Naaah. Who would believe that of anyone anymore. Paula hasn't had any of her own. Perhaps she just makes the most of it when gifted with the opportunity to spend time with children.

I don't agree with ripping someone or just anyone apart just for the sake of doing it. It's not one of man's nobler qualities. This is a few HUGS, people. Focus. On other truly bad things.

Posted at 3:30PM on Jun 20th 2007 by HelloThere

22. OMG! Leave Paula alone. She's just being nice to her fans, as for as I know, that's allowed. Paula ROCKS!

Posted at 6:40AM on Jun 21st 2007 by Lins

23. For the record, when she left the kids were screaming, "we love you paula" and at Ketchup, winner Jordan Sparks was in attendance. Try again guys. She's got alot of problems but last night was not one of them.

Posted at 6:22PM on Jun 20th 2007 by Whitebread

24. I certainly hope that Paula had friends or family to celebrate her birthday with. These kids from American Idol are half her age and certainly not real friends. TMZ, am I missing something? Is this the best you can do? Pictures of celebs walking in and out of business establishments or getting in and out of their cars? Why are you all here commenting on these inane "stories"? Heck, why am I here???

Posted at 6:31PM on Jun 20th 2007 by Diamondintherough

25. Leave Paula alone, she isn't hurting anybody. Nothing wrong with giving hugs. Obviously the kids knew who Paul was.

Posted at 9:51PM on Jun 20th 2007 by zeldacanuck

26. Haha the kids she hugged were my friend and her cousins!

Posted at 9:13PM on Jun 21st 2007 by Leanne

27. tmz is garbage. what is she doing wrong?

Posted at 11:55PM on Aug 26th 2007 by MrOshun