Paula Abdul Quits American Idol On Twitter Not Returning Next Season at The Insider

American Idol judge, Paula Abdul, is reportedly quiting the popular talent show. There are rumors that Paula quit her gig because show creator Simon Cowell would not give her a multi million dollar raise. This is a briliant strategy on Paul’s part because Idol fans don’t want to look at judge Kara “what’s her name” who used to be Paula Abdul’s friend. The American Idol brand doesn’t work without Paula Abdul. It’s just a matter of time before idol producers pay up to Paula or the show will probably feel the loss in their viewership and ratings. Gawker five reasons for why Paul Abdul quit American Idol. They all make sense as valid reasons for why Paul stands a good chance of pulling in the big bucks if she continues with the show. The NY Daily News speculates that Idol will be able to bounce back from Paula Abdul’s departure.

Why did Paula do it? After I reported three weeks ago that Idol’s “nice judge” Paula Abdul was considering walking away from the television behemouth, her manager’s statements were widely considered to be a negotiating ploy. [Ed. note: To totally brag, Richard was the only reporter who actually spoke to Abdul's manager during her contract negotiations.] However, after doing several Abdul contract pieces this year I saw that beneath the bluster, she was in fact, emotionally getting ready to make the change. Why would you walk away from the biggest show in TV history?

1. She wasn’t joking about the money. Jaws dropped when I reported a few months back that while mean judge Cowell was making upwards of $40 million, Abdul was making downwards of 2 million. And she had had enough of this. It’s been reported since that she asked for $20 million in a new contract and Idol was willing to bump her up into the range of $4 million. From my chats with her and her manager, she was very serious about not coming back unless the increase was something major.

2. She can get more elsewhere. People say, “But Paula is nothing without Idol!” The proper phrasing might be, she would’ve been nothing without Idol. But now she is an on-screen character of the biggest show in the world and she’s a free agent. There are a lot of networks out there (four to be precise) who would try anything — anything — to take even a small bite out of the Idol juggernaut, and they’d be willing to pay a lot more than $4 million to do it. Why not an Idol competitor starring Paula on another net?

3. Living in the Cowell shadow is only fun for so long. And that amount of time is something less than 8 years. Having to make a fraction of his money, have a fraction of the respect and clout he gets around the set and around the world, eventually the “I’m just lucky to be here” feeling wears off. And once it was announced a few week’s back that Seacrest’s contract too would soar into the stratosphere, all incentive to take table scraps and keep riding in the back seat evaporated. [source]

The 47 year old has been in negotiations with TV executives to renew her contract for series’ 2010 season, alongside Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson and Kara DioGuardi. She reportedly demanded $20 million from bosses and they said no…

Here is what she wrote on Twitter:

“With sadness in my heart, I’ve decided not to return to IDOL. I’ll miss nurturing all the new talent, but most of all being a part of a show that I helped from day1 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.” “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 TV says in a statement. “While Paula will not be continuing with us, she’s a tremendous talent and we wish her the best.” [source]