Wow… I just watched a clip from The View today in which Barbara Walters talks about an interview she did with Paula Abdul on her radio show. http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=6425460
In the chat fest in the beginning of the show Barbara refers to that interview when she says that Paula has dropped a few explosive bombs about American Idol producers, Fox television, as well as, Simon Cowell.
As many of you know, there was an unfortunate young woman who was allegedly obsessed with Paula Adbul who died in front of Paula’s home…allegedly a suicide. This young woman, Paula Goodspeed, has been supposedly sending letters and trying to make contact with Paula Abdul for something like 17 years, through her fan club.
Abdul claims in the radio interview with Barbara Walters that the producers of American Idol knew of this young woman’s obsession and still they allowed her to audition for the three Idol judges. That audition appears to have caused much harm; because of the rejection Paula Goodspeed felt that she was publically humiliated. Does a show like this carry a legal and moral responsibility to pre-screen contestants; to make sure that they can handle the criticism that they face on the show? I think they should.
Paula Abdul says that she begged the producers and Simon not to allow Ms. Goodspeed to audition…but, against her wishes they allowed her to audition, possibly more than once. It put her in a terrible position; Paula says that the producers and Simon wished to see her squirm.
At some point, Ms. Goodspeed followed Paula Abdul to her home address. There were other incidents that took place there before the actual suicide took place. Paula was not home when the suicide took place. She now has her home for sale i hear; she says she has not slept there since it happened.
Paula also says that she has lost endorsements and business opportunities because of the public’s perception that she is drunk or stoned on medications; because of the way that she is portrayed on the show. She says, part of, that is caused by Simon who says crazy things in Paula’s ear piece while she is trying to communicate her “judgement”. She says, something to the effect, that this is a distraction; and, Simon tries to make her laugh when she is trying to graciously speak to the contestants.
If these things are true, and she can prove them…i see this turning into a major big, legal deal. Obviously, Paula is upset about the whole nightmare of the suicide of Paula Goodspeed. After all, a life was lost and if it is true that it was because of manipulations behind the scenes of the show…then shame on those involved. There are more important things than ratings of a television show!
When asked why Paula was still on the show…she apparently, simply said that she is under contract. Paula also allegedly says that Simon could have at anytime corrected himself and retracted the statements that he has made. She is under contract for another year; even though, this year there is a fourth judge being brought onto the show. Just last week, Randy Jackson was on television shows saying not to believe everything people hear about this year’s American Idol.
What does this mean? Is there a mystery here behind the scenes? Does Paula want out of her contract? Did this suicide impress on anyone the importance of the impact of the hurtful words that are said to contestants who don’t measure up to the judges expectations? Is the show going to be legally liable in the young woman’s death? I wonder, do you anyone feels guilty who was involved in that episode involving young Paula Goodspeed?
Does this controversy mean that Paula will no longer associate herself with the show after her contract expires? Time will tell. I suspect that we have not heard the last of this drama. What do you think is going on? Is it alright to do “anything” to get ratings…or, should networks, producers, and the like be held responsible when things go wrong?
* See related story here: https://writeasrain.wordpress.com/2008/11/13/american-idol-judge-idolized/
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