Fan's Suicide 'Haunting' Abdul

But doubts producers shrugged off Abdul's protests about audition

(NEWSER) - Simon Cowell says he regrets not realizing how troubled the American Idol contestant who killed herself outside judge Paula Abdul’s home last month was, but refutes Abdul’s claim that she begged producers to keep the obsessed Paula Goodspeed off the show. “I wish we could have spent time trying to help her,” Cowell tells the Daily Mail. “We genuinely didn’t know.” More»

Idol judge can't handle stalker questions

(NEWSER) - Poor, beleaguered Paula Abdul came unglued at the end of her interview with David Letterman last night, Gawker reports. The singer got upset when Letterman brought up her recent allegations that American Idol purposely brought known stalker Paula Goodspeed—who later committed suicide—onto the show. After a few minutes of being encouraged by Letterman to sue Idol, Abdul got up out of her chair and made as if to leave. More»

Police have had to deal with woman before, suspect suicide

(NEWSER) - A suspected stalker was found dead of a possible drug overdose or suicide outside Paula Abdul’s house last night, TMZ reports. The woman, whose parents tipped police off that she may be at Abdul’s house, had Paula stickers hanging from the mirror of the car police found her in. Sources say cops have dealt with the woman before, and Paula’s “people” were reportedly familiar with her. More»

DeGeneres talks Cowell, Paula Abdul as American Idol returns

(NEWSER) - Ellen DeGeneres makes her debut as the newest American Idol judge on Tuesday, and she talks Simon Cowell (he’s “smart,” but “mean” and “insensitive”) and more with the Wall Street Journal :

• Paula Abdul: “I don't know if I'll be as nurturing as she is. I'll probably try to be somewhat encouraging. But I'll be honest. I don't think it helps anybody to be encouraged and not told the truth.”

Idol judge looks for new house after fan ODs outside her home

(NEWSER) - Paula Abdul is selling the Los Angeles home where an obsessed fan committed suicide outside in her car, Us Weekly reports. The American Idol judge, who reportedly employed a “healer” to cleanse the house of ghosts, now wants to live in a gated community. “Paula simply feels she has outgrown her house,” said the pop star’s spokesman. More»