Home : TV, American Idol : Welcome to Hollywood -- Abdul Threatens 'Idol'

Welcome to Hollywood -- Abdul Threatens 'Idol'

Posted Jul 19th 2009 10:01AM by TMZ Staff

Paula AbdulPaul Abdul is hurt, angry and threatening to quit "American Idol" ... like "60 Minutes" wants to snatch her up.

It's absurd, but Abdul's manager told the L.A. Times, "Very sadly, it does not appear that she's going to be back on 'Idol," adding "Idol" producers have been "rude and disrespectful" by not offering her a new deal.

Ok, let's now get real. Our "A.I." spies say Abdul is raking in about 2 1/2 million bucks a year -- a nice check, but compared to the $15 mil a year that Ryan Seacrest just sealed ...

In Hollywood, stars have to talk the walk in order to rob the bank. Paula's manager says since "Idol" hasn't offered her a new deal she's now considering starting a competitive show. Here's the deal ... Paula tried starting her own series a few years back with Paramount .... NIGHTMARE! The idea crashed and burned.

So it's yet another ploy for more moolah, and more power to her. Whatever the deal it's a long way from Paula's first season paycheck -- our "A.I." spies say she was pulling in $5,000 a week.

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Tags: American Idol, AmericanIdol, contract, deal, FOX, kara dioguardi, KaraDioguardi, money, Paula Abdul, PaulaAbdul, quit, randy jackson, RandyJackson, ryan seacrest, RyanSeacrest, simon cowell, SimonCowell, threaten

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(Page 5 of 13) Previous 15 Comments | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Most Recent | Next 15 Comments

61. She is an absolute pain to watch. I don't think it's alcohol it's either percosets, zoloft or some other anti depression meds but she has kept me from watching the show for the last four years.

REHAB PAULA

Posted at 12:37PM on Jul 19th 2009 by Sara Brown

62. How did Paula Abdul get to be a judge in the first place? She can't sing worth a lick and apparently duped herself into thinking she could. How can she be judging others (and getting paid exhorbitant amounts of money to do so) when she failed to recognize her own shortcomings as a singer? I'd be delighted to see her go.

Posted at 12:39PM on Jul 19th 2009 by SallyAnne

63. I won't watch if Paula's not on the show. Wouldn't be the same without her!

Posted at 12:40PM on Jul 19th 2009 by T

64. Now she can just fade away...
I will long for her retarded comments with cackling...

No really
She makes me laugh...
Please don't go...

Posted at 12:41PM on Jul 19th 2009 by PASSION OF THE TAINT

65. It amazes me that women are still not treated fairly in today's society, when are things going to change. Ryan gets 15 mil, Simon gets 100 mil and Paula 2.5 mil, what is wrong with this picture!

Posted at 1:53PM on Jul 19th 2009 by cleveland gal

66. GOOD----PLEASE, LEAVE!!!!
the DING DONG was lucky to have a shot of making some $$ without checking groceries before she dies. HOW DID SHE QUALIFY FOR JUDGE ANYWAYS????? ALL SHE EVER DID WAS RECORD A COUPLE STUPID BUBBLEGUM SONGS AND HAD A DEAL WITH THE LAKERS TO JUMP AROUND IN A MINI. HOW ABOUT A REAL JUDGE WHO WOULD KNOW SOMETHING ABOUT TALENT???
AND QUIT TRYING TO HIDE YOUR MOLE PAULA - WE KNOW IT'S THERE. YOU MAKE ENOUGH DOUGH TO HAVE IT REMOVED RATHER THAN PASTING IT!

Posted at 1:04PM on Jul 19th 2009 by uhHuh

67. The stars are not overpaid. This is just a liberal notion. If FOX can afford to pay this money it's because they make a lot of money in advertising for American Idol. So 45 million for 3 years is nothing because they make close to a billion off of the show.

Liberals always want to dictate what a person should make or what a person should have. Last I checked this was a free country and this means a person can negotiate a contract and make money and it's none of the liberals business.

Posted at 12:58PM on Jul 19th 2009 by Cuzzo

68. This is what´s wrong in America - Talentless idiots are being paid big $$$, while hard working Americans are being foreclosed because talentless douches with more money than them forced them into buying overpriced homes - after all, $15M a year need to be spent somehow!!!

Posted at 1:04PM on Jul 19th 2009 by Judge Dredd

69. Paula's lawyer can make her arguments for her, so I won't do it here. But Seacrest getting so much more does seem bizarre. All the personalities help make the show. Simon I guess could justify making more than the others (doesn't he own a piece the show anyway?). But Seacrest pulling $15 mil? I'm gonna start calling Seacrest SupaHead, cause he must be laying it on some key somebodies real proper-like.

Posted at 1:17PM on Jul 19th 2009 by FrankieStage

70.
Considering that people are losing their homes, jobs, ...families are breaking up.... ..

This is rediculous....and should be againist the law. I don't watch that show anymore...it has become very boring...and old.





Posted at 2:21PM on Jul 19th 2009 by cat

71. The show sucks. The format is frustrating, the judges are boring, the performers rarely have any talent. They should ALL leave the show. Scrap it altogether.

Posted at 1:07PM on Jul 19th 2009 by PolarBear

72. Waiting for something cogent to come out of Paula's mouth as she comments on contestents has become excruciating. Cut her loose. Simon and Randy could carry the show anyway.

Posted at 1:08PM on Jul 19th 2009 by Jon

73. Cuzzo... Liberal? Your stretching this to make a political point?

Posted at 1:11PM on Jul 19th 2009 by SallyAnne

74. Rude and disrespectful is that in these hard times where people are losing their homes and collecting unemployment at staggering rates that you have this manager using the media to garner sympathy to use as leverage for a new contract for Ms. Abdul. It's so very transparent. I hope that the producers call their bluff. That 2.5 million won't look so ad then. We're not your chess pieces. Show us some respect.

Posted at 1:13PM on Jul 19th 2009 by Pila

75. Cuzzo...
Liberal? You're stretching this topic to make a political statement?

Posted at 1:18PM on Jul 19th 2009 by SallyAnne

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