ABC News, promising that its special May 4 episode of Primetime Live ''will explore explosive claims about behind-the-scenes activities at American Idol,'' is facing an explosive reaction of its own from Paula Abdul. The Los Angeles Times reports that Abdul's attorney, Marty Singer, sent ABC a letter on Tuesday threatening legal action if the network airs the report. ''There's a false story that's defamatory to Paula,'' her rep told the New York Daily News, in reference to Singer's letter to ABC. ''Her lawyer responded to that.''
Not that anyone knows for sure what the backstage exposé will report. ABC has declined to discuss the contents of the report (which Primetime is calling ''Fallen Idol,'' natch), even as ABC touts the hour-long single-story special episode of Primetime, for which ABC is bumping Wednesday night hit Eyes at the beginning of the May ratings sweeps period.
Still, a report in Variety last week suggested that the exposé would focus on the relationship between Idol's judges and contestants. At the same time, tabloid The Globe reported that Season 2 contestant Corey Clark is shopping a proposal for a tell-all book in which he claims he had an affair with judge Paula Abdul during his tenure on the show, and that she offered him both financial and moral support in his pursuit of a music career.
All four of the permanent Idol stars came out swinging on Tuesday, hoping to smack down the various rumors. Abdul denied Clark's allegations to TV's Extra and to People magazine, which published a cover story last week on her years-long struggle with chronic pain. She told People that she found the Clark claims ''hideous and mean.'' On Wednesday, her publicist issued a full statement, telling Access Hollywood, ''Paula Abdul will not dignify the false statements made by Corey Clark with a response. Mr. Clark is an admitted liar and opportunist who engages in unlawful activities. He is communicating lies about Paula Abdul in order to generate interest in a book deal.''
Earlier, on Access Hollywood, judge Randy Jackson cast doubt on Clark's credibility, noting that producers booted him from the show for not disclosing that he was facing assault charges for allegedly attacking his kid sister. After his ouster, Clark pleaded no contest to a lesser charge of obstructing legal process.
In the People cover story, Abdul denied ever being addicted to painkillers or other drugs, and while she acknowledge hiding her condition from her fellow judges, she attributed her eccentric behavior on the show to her relief at finally being pain-free. Host Ryan Seacrest appeared on Extra to shoot down any rumors to the contrary. ''I've never seen her take a pill,'' he said, adding, ''She's never told us anything that has come out in the magazines, but we hope she's back on track.''
''There's no underhandedness going on behind the scenes,'' Judge Simon Cowell told Extra's Terri Seymour (who is also his girlfriend), though he acknowledged that Abdul has a closer off-screen relationship with the contestants than the other judges do. ''Paula, to be fair to her, will spend more time backstage with the contestants giving encouragement. But that's not a bad thing,'' he said. ''I think [the accusations] are rubbish. I think this is a guy who's out there to publish a book.''
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