1. Headline
  1. Headline
BREAKING: Freeway span over Washington state river partially collapses; cars in water

Video: Abdul upset at ‘Idol’ producers over stalker

updated 12/11/2008 11:43:41 AM ET 2008-12-11T16:43:41

Paula Abdul says the Fox network and “American Idol” producers knew Paula Goodspeed had stalked her, and allowed the woman to audition for the show anyway.

“I said this girl is a stalker of mine and please do not let her in,” Abdul said Monday during an interview with Barbara Walters on her Sirius XM radio show.

Goodspeed was found dead of an apparent suicide in a car near Abdul’s home last month.

Abdul said “Idol” producers ignored her protests and brought Goodspeed on the show “for entertainment value.”

  1. More Entertainment stories
    1. Autistic ballerina dances her way into hearts

      In a popular YouTube video, the beaming little ballerina dances an entire four-minute routine seemingly perfectly, matchin...

    2. Every on-screen drink in 'Mad Men' in 5 minutes
    3. See the 'Dancing' stars' most memorable moves
    4. Emmy's biggest snubs? Cranston, Hamm, more
    5. 'Toy Story' toys burn up in prank on mom

“It’s fun for them to cause me stress,” Abdul said. “This was something that would make good television.”

At the behest of producers, Goodspeed appeared on the show more than once, Abdul said.

Both Fox and Fremantle Media North America, which produces “American Idol,” declined to comment Tuesday.

Abdul, 46, said Goodspeed had written her “disturbing letters” for nearly 18 years and that she maintained a restraining order against the woman at times.

The “American Idol” judge also accused Fox of making her home address public, although she added that Goodspeed found the place on her own after an audition: “She followed me home with her mom.”

When Walters asked why Abdul remains on a show that put her in peril, Abdul replied: “I’m under contract.”

© 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Discuss:

Discussion comments

,

Most active discussions

  1. votes comments
  2. votes comments
  3. votes comments
  4. votes comments

More on TODAY.com

None
  1. Jersey Shore to celebrate re-opening 7 months after Sandy

    Seven months after being devastated by the worst storm in New Jersey history, most of the beaches and boardwalks of the Jersey Shore are back and open for business in time for Memorial Day weekend.

    5/23/2013 10:00:28 PM +00:00 2013-05-23T22:00:28
  2. TODAY visits the Jersey Shore: A behind-the-scenes look
  3. RSVP: TODAY at the Jersey Shore
  4. Mel Evans / AP
None
  1. Win Mcnamee / Getty Images

    Boy Scouts vote to lift ban on gay youth

    5/24/2013 1:51:01 AM +00:00 2013-05-24T01:51:01
None
  1. Arias jury hung on penalty phase

    Jurors in the high-profile Jodi Arias trial on Thursday failed to reach agreement over whether she should receive the death penalty for killing her ex-boyfriend.

    5/23/2013 11:42:40 PM +00:00 2013-05-23T23:42:40
None
  1. NBC News

    Man finds first Superman comic stuffed in wall

    5/23/2013 10:03:08 PM +00:00 2013-05-23T22:03:08
None
  1. YouTube

    Girl, 14, rocks Internet with Van Halen guitar solo

    5/23/2013 9:06:52 PM +00:00 2013-05-23T21:06:52