How Paula Abdul Could Have (And Probably Should Have) Stayed On Idol

Paula Abdul will not be back as a judge on American Idol, as she reported first on her Twitter feed last night. Why did she pull the trigger – especially when reports say she didn’t necessarily have to?

Abdul has spent eight seasons on the highly-rated show, and rumors she was thinking about leaving have floated for the last couple years. But few thought it would happen. In fact, some didn’t buy it when the news first came out.

Bonnie Fuller wrote on Twitter that it was all a big PR push, although she has since recanted a bit today. “Well Paula – I for one think you’re makg a big mistake! Even if you’re not happy with your pay V Ryan – you have a great golden goose!!” she writes.

So why did she leave? TheWrap.com’s Josef Adalian reports steps were taken to get Abdul to stay. “Sources say the network and producers were willing to up Abdul’s salary by a huge 30 percent,” he writes.

Although Abdul’s current salary is not known, that raise could have brought her up to more than $4 million a year If it were a multi-year deal, TheWrap.com reports she’d take in “$11 million to $17.5 million.”

Will she be able to find a new job where she’ll make even more? Gawker thinks so. But even if she can make more money, she’s leaving a proven winner that gives her a ton of exposure. Despite American Idol‘s success, there are no illusions Abdul is the driving force behind it. Besides the “talent” (the competitors), Simon Cowell is the FOX show. Ryan Seacrest is also a big part – and each of the duo get paid handsomely for it.

Without Abdul, Idol will be fine. But without Idol, it’s not clear Abdul will be able to find another big platform. She’ll likely see offers from other networks looking to take a shot at an AI competitor. But with the money reportedly being left on the table for her to stay, it’s a bold, and puzzling, move.

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