Paula Abdul: 'I've never been drunk'

Font Size:
Default font size
Larger font size

buy this photo American Idol judge Paula Abdul says she's never been drunk or done drugs despite criticism of her sometimes spacy behavior.

NEW YORK (AP) - Paula Abdul's spacy behavior on "American Idol" have prompted many to ponder if there's a tumbler or two of booze in that red cup on the table in front of her on the Fox talent contest.

That's nonsense, the 44-year-old "Idol" judge tells Us Weekly magazine in its Feb. 16 issue. "I've never been drunk. I have never done recreational drugs," she says. "Just look at my 20-year career. Tell me someone who is into partying or doing drugs that could have done that."

In her five years on "Idol," Abdul - a singer and a movie, TV and stage choreographer - has weathered criticism about her sometimes odd behavior, which has included slurred and garbled speech, and her not-so-subtle gushing over the show's young, male singers.

"There have been 100 million lies about me," says Abdul, who has said she's taken prescription medication for health problems, including inflammatory arthritis. "I'm squeaky clean. I've worked my ass off my entire life. (But) being involved in the show causes people to question everything."

Last year, Fox announced that Abdul signed a deal to put up with Simon Cowell - oh, and judge, too - on "Idol" through 2008.

"I have never missed a live show," Abdul notes. "Even when I had surgery on my hand (for an infection caused by a botched manicure in 2004), I left my hospital bed to go to the show."

Print Email

/entertainment
 
Sponsored by:

Chestnut Wins Hot Dog Eating Match, Again
Chestnut Wins Hot Dog Eating Match, Again
A 25-year-old California man has captured his third straight July Fourth hot-dog eating contest at Coney Island, an annual showcase for flamboyant hot dogging contestants eager to show they really are what they eat. (July 4)
Raw video: Emergency plane landing
Raw video: Emergency plane landing
A single-engine Cessna made an emergency landing on a gravel road southeast of Towanda on Friday.
Video: Pantagraph on Par: Weibring Golf Club at ISU
Video: Pantagraph on Par: Weibring Golf Club at ISU
Pantagraph on Par is a series highlighting the toughest golf holes in the area. In this installment, Pantagraph reporter Jim Benson takes on No. 16 at Illinois State University's Weibring Golf Club alongside club professional Laura Provost.
Video: Pantagraph on Par: Ironwood
Video: Pantagraph on Par: Ironwood
Pantagraph on Par is a series highlighting the toughest golf holes in the area. In the first installment, Pantagraph reporter Jim Benson takes on No. 16 at Ironwood alongside Ironwood pro Craig Onsrud.
Video: Pantagraph on Par: The Den at Fox Creek
Video: Pantagraph on Par: The Den at Fox Creek
Pantagraph on Par is a series highlighting the toughest golf holes in the area. In this installment, Pantagraph reporter Jim Benson takes on No. 6 at The Den at Fox Creek alongside Jason Wingate, Bloomington's superintendent of golf operations