Skip navigation
advertisement

Abdul upset at ‘Idol’ producers over stalker

Says network knew Goodspeed was a stalker but still let her audition

Video
  Abdul upset at ‘Idol’ producers over stalker
Dec. 11: “American Idol” judge Paula Abdul is lashing out at the show’s producers after a stalker was found dead outside her home. NBC’s Michael Okwu reports.

Today show

  ‘Idol’ tweets
Image: "American Idol" logo
Fox

Msnbc.com’s ‘American Idol’ expert tweets his thoughts during the shows. See what he has to say: twitter.com/craigberman.

Slideshow
Image: Carrie Underwood
  Best and worst of ‘Idol’
Carrie Underwood and Jennifer Hudson are among the show's biggest successes, while William Hung and Sanjaya are among its less successful contestants.

more photos

updated 11:43 a.m. ET Dec. 11, 2008

LOS ANGELES - Paula Abdul says the Fox network and “American Idol” producers knew Paula Goodspeed had stalked her, and allowed the woman to audition for the show anyway.

“I said this girl is a stalker of mine and please do not let her in,” Abdul said Monday during an interview with Barbara Walters on her Sirius XM radio show.

Goodspeed was found dead of an apparent suicide in a car near Abdul’s home last month.

Story continues below ↓
advertisement | your ad here

Abdul said “Idol” producers ignored her protests and brought Goodspeed on the show “for entertainment value.”

“It’s fun for them to cause me stress,” Abdul said. “This was something that would make good television.”

At the behest of producers, Goodspeed appeared on the show more than once, Abdul said.

Both Fox and Fremantle Media North America, which produces “American Idol,” declined to comment Tuesday.

Abdul, 46, said Goodspeed had written her “disturbing letters” for nearly 18 years and that she maintained a restraining order against the woman at times.

The “American Idol” judge also accused Fox of making her home address public, although she added that Goodspeed found the place on her own after an audition: “She followed me home with her mom.”

When Walters asked why Abdul remains on a show that put her in peril, Abdul replied: “I’m under contract.”

© 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Sponsored links

Resource guide