Paula Abdul Quits ‘American Idol’

paula abdul quits american idol:

Paula Abdul has announced she will not be returning for a ninth season as a judge of “American Idol.”

Paula Abdul tweets her message of quitting from American Idol through twitter:

“With sadness in my heart, I’ve decided not to return to #IDOL,” Paula Abdul wrote.

“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.”

Paula Abdul did not give a reason for her quits, but reading the tea leaves about her future on the show had been a popular pastime in US entertainment circles.

In late July Paula Abdul wrote on Twitter that she was “trying to work out details of how I can return to #Idol.”

“I hope you understand I can only return to Idol if the deal is fair.”

Paula Abdul’s three fellow judges — Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson and newcomer Kara DioGuardi — as well as host Ryan Seacrest, have all reportedly signed contracts for Idol’s ninth season on the Fox network, whose show routinely draws more than 10 million viewers each week in the United States alone.

Millions more watch in dozens of other countries around the world.

In a statement carried by industry media, Fox appeared to stress that the decision to exit the show was Paula Abdul’s.

“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,” Fox said.

“While Paula Abdul will not be continuing with us, she’s a tremendous talent and we wish her the best.”

Seacrest wrote on his Twitter feed that he was “shocked and saddened about Paula Abdul.”

“Idol and the cast have grown with each other over the last 8 seasons..I can’t imagine the panel without Paula Abdul (sic).”