"Hurt" Paula Abdul Gets Support from Idol's Simon, Twitter Campaign
Paula Abdul with Simon Cowell
Paula Abdul has the support of her American Idol foil, Simon Cowell, as well as scores of fans and Idol alumni, as her fate with the hit reality show remains in limbo.
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Not long after Abdul's manager, David Sonenberg, told the Los Angeles Times that the producers of Idol had yet to make his "hurt' and "angry" client an offer to return for Season 9, Cowell told Extra, "She'll be on the show."
"I don't get a lot of say," added Cowell, who's in the midst of his own contract talks. "I've just made it clear that I want Paula on the show."
Ryan Seacrest in turn echoed what he told TVGuide.com last month, telling Extra, "As far as I know, you'll see everybody back."
Idol's host later went on Twitter to tell Abdul, "I can't imagine doing Idol without you!" Last week, Seacrest extended his own deal with the Fox series through 2010, at a reported $15 million per year.
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Speaking of Twitter, a campaign — tagged #keeppaula — is underway to drum up support for the seemingly snubbed judge. In addition to Idol fans, singers such as Danny Gokey, Anoop Desai, Matt Giraud, Syesha Mercado and even "Bikini Girl" Katrina Darrell have retweeted the message to keep Abdul on the dais.
Abdul — who is in the midst of a three-week vacation — has responded with a flurry of appreciative messages.
"You are all such a positive light in my life!" she said on Twitter. "I am thankful every day for all of you guys."
Relive your favorite American Idol moments with American Idol Rewind, airing Sundays at 9/8c on TV Guide Network.