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'Nightline' grills Paula Abdul over Idol, and substance abuse rumors

By April MacIntyre Apr 21, 2009, 14:45 GMT

03/28/2009 - Paula Abdul - She talks about her rumored substance abuse and her alleged fabricated hot-cold relationship with media master Simon Cowell, her relationship with firebrand newbie judge Kara DioGuardi, and her career plans post-Idol. © Bob Charlotte / PR Photos

ABC's "Nightline" co-anchor Cynthia McFadden interviewed "American Idol" judge Paula Abdul about a variety of topics.  The show will air Thursday.

Abdul has been dogged for years over alleged drug and drink rumors based on her incoherent sound bites, Idol performances and quotes.

She talks about her rumored substance abuse and her alleged fabricated hot-cold relationship with media master Simon Cowell, her relationship with firebrand newbie judge Kara DioGuardi, and her career plans post-Idol.

Excerpts from the interview posted by ABC reveal Abdul to be tiring of Idol.

Abdul told McFadden she was given virtually no notice the judge panel would be adding Kara. "I thought that respectfully all of us as a group, maybe we could even figure this out together, and I was surprised because Simon has always been against the fourth. We've had guest judges come in before, and he banned that from happening anymore...Abdul continued. "Well, I started her success. And I'm proud of it. Happy of it. I moved a stranger from New York, told her to give two weeks' notice to Billboard magazine, and moved a stranger into my home in L.A ...I actually knew her and that her humble beginning began sleeping in my guest bedroom and I just believed in her..."

Simon was called out as a bully by Abdul, who goes back and forth between loving playfulness and hectoring for his tactless assessment of mediocre singers.  "He's a bully, he's a masterful bully...The first day I went to work on season one I quit seven times. Seven times... I couldn't believe that that someone was actually getting away with crushing fragile kids. This happens behind your back, [not] in front of your face."

Paula hints to McFadden this is her swan song on the popular franchise, and told her that Kara would never replace her.  "I don't think anyone [can]. First of all, Kara says I could never replace you. And I said, whenever there is change it's not about replacing anybody. It's about possibly moving on."