American Idol fans — and Ryan Seacrest, apparently — got caught in a hit-and-run Twitter storm last night when Paula Abdul announced that she won’t be returning to the show after a protracted period of negotiations.
After several weeks of speculation — and following the news that Kara DioGuardi had confirmed plans to return to the show — the longtime Idol fixture tweeted last night that she would not be back. At least one media maven says the story is not as straight up as it looks, however.
“With sadness in my heart, I’ve decided not to return to #IDOL,” Abdul wrote via Twitter. “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…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, especially over the past month…I do without any doubt have the BEST fans in the entire world and I love you all.”
A statement from FOX, FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment said, “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.”
The Live Feed blog says sources say Abdul rejected a 30% raise to return. Other sources have reported that Abdul demanded a raise to $20 million.
According to TLF sources, Fox was willing to have all four judges return and DioGuardi’s deal wasn’t made as a preemptive replacement for Abdul. The network and producers, however, were irked when Abdul’s manager took negotiations to the media last month. “Very sadly, it does not appear that she’s going to be back on Idol,” manager David Sonenberg told The Los Angeles Times on July 17.
Abdul, says The New York Times, was believed to have earned about $2 million in salary last season. The Los Angeles Times reports that Fox was apparently willing to go north of $5 million a year for three years.
Simon Cowell and Randy Jackson are already locked in for next season, as is host Seacrest, who signed a three-year, $45 million contract last month.
Seacrest last night sent a Twitter message of his own: “About to go to sleep when I started seeing my Blackberry blow up. I have read what you have read and I am shocked and saddened about Paula.”
Gawker, meanwhile, reports that former US Weekly editor Bonnie Fuller — who was recently named president of HollywoodLife.com — had her own tweets to add to the unfolding drama.
Fuller’s postings read: “I hear that Paula Abdul has already signed her new deal with Idol. The whole sob story of not getting a deal was a pure publicity stunt.” And a minute later, “Everyone was into the Paula PR-stint- +her contract is DONE DEAL!”
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