Paula Abdul has released a statement confirming she won’t be returning to X Factor:
“Yes, it’s true; I won’t be returning to The X Factor next season. I’ve learned through my longevity in this industry that business decisions often times override personal considerations. Simon and I, along with Fox and Fremantle, have been communicating about this for a while now, and I have absolute understanding of the situation. Simon is, and will remain a dear friend of mine and I’ve treasured my experience working this past season with my extended family at Fox and Fremantle. I want nothing more than for The X Factor to exceed ALL of their wildest dreams. This truly has been a blessing and I am most grateful.”
Classy Paula. I wish I could say the same for your “friend” Simon Cowell
Here’s Simon Cowell’s statement:
“I want to say a massive thank you to Paula, Nicole and Steve for being part of The X Factor last year. We had a lot of fun making the show together and importantly, we found some real talent and stars. You do develop friendships with the people you work with and Paula, in particular, is a very close friend and I expect to be working with her on another project in the near future. I’m sure all three are going to have massive success in what they do next , but now is the time to thank them all for everything they did last year.”
He should contact each one of them to thank them personally. I wonder if he’s talked to Nicole or Steven?
Fox’s president of alternative Mike Darnell:
“We love Paula. She is a remarkable talent and we appreciate all of her contributions. We’re lucky that she is a part of the Fox family, and we look forward to working with her again soon.”
I wonder if Simon already has Paula in mind for another project? That could be why she’s taking it so well.
Nicole Scherzinger tweets,
“I wanted to let you know directly from me that it’s true I won’t be returning to The X Factor. Looking forward to an exciting year ahead and making great music and more! I’m grateful for the love you always give me.”
