ABCNEWS claims AMERICAN IDOL judge Paula Abdul had an 'intensive relationship' with one of the contestants, Cory Clark, and 'coached' him on his performances... Abdul and FOX have vowed legal action against ABC if the report airs.... MORE...
ABC: She coached you? CLARK: Right. ABC: She picked your songs? CLARK: Yeah. ABC: She picked your clothes? CLARK: Right ? and got my haircut for me?...
Other IDOL contestants react:
NASHEKA SIDDALL: For those who put so much work and effort into it ? and someone that?s kind of getting the easy ride in? Absolutely wrong? there?s no other way to put it. No, it?s absolutely wrong?
PATRICK FORTSON: I?m very surprised?He didn?t deserve to win, because it?s not fair to everybody else who did it on their own?
GEORGE TRICE: It makes you upset because you see those twelve spots. And we were all fighting for one of those twelve spots. You know, my life will go on, my career will go on. I?ll continue to go for it. But, you know ? that?s a slap in the face. It really is.
ABC received the following statement from ?American Idol? this afternoon at 5:15 PM ET:
?Disqualified IDOL contestant Corey Clark was removed from the show for failing to disclose his criminal arrest history. Despite documented procedures and multiple opportunities for contestants to raise any concerns they may have, the producers of IDOL, FreemantleMedia, 19 Entertainment and FOX were never notified or contacted by Mr. Clark, nor presented any evidence concerning his claims. We will, of course, look into any evidence of improper conduct that we receive. In the meantime, we recommend that the public carefully examine Mr. Clark?s motives, given his apparent desire to exploit his prior involvement with IDOL for profit and publicity.?
