Tidbits: Abdul Talks ‘Idol,' Dances Around Rumors

The decision to leave “American Idol” wasn’t an easy choice for Paula Abdul, and whether or not it’s a permanent one remains to be seen. In an interview with TV Guide, the former judge tackled the mixed emotions she felt about her fateful farewell.

“You know, to say ‘no regrets’ isn’t easy,” Abdul revealed. “I feel like I have been such a big, huge part of the success of the show from day one. I loved being able to be the artist’s artist; being there from my point of view of knowing what it feels like to be vulnerable and to be out there wanting to achieve the most magical moment in a minute and 30 seconds. To be able to do that was an amazing experience and the show was wonderful for me in that regard.”

But the “Idol” experience wasn’t so wonderful for Abdul when it came to contract negotiations. When her manager and former employers failed to find a figure that could compete with the high-dollar deals Ryan Seacrest and Simon Cowell were said to secure, Abdul announced her departure from the televised talent show. It was a decision she now puts down to principles, not profits.

“I stand on principle where many people stand on money,” Abdul explained. “I’m a hard-working artist. I’ve lasted in this business for 23 years. And you can’t do that unless you are good at what you do. I believe in myself and you have to have your own self-respect.”

Given all the “bring-Paula-back” buzz, one has to wonder if there’s any chance Abdul could still renegotiate her way to a respectful return to the show. If she knows, she’s not saying.

“That’s a hard question to answer right now,” Abdul told the magazine. “I mean, I don’t think I can answer that right now.”

Paris Jackson keeps her hair after cut
When 11-year-old Paris Jackson went to Amp Salon in Las Vegas last weekend, the trip illustrated one of the unusual twists behind routine events for Michael Jackson’s offspring.

According to the Daily Mail, moments after a stylist finished the pre-teen’s new look, security collected hair from the floor and bagged it before anyone could make off with a single stray strand. The military-like maneuver may seem strange, but one onlooker instantly understood why the Jackson clan considered it a necessary precaution.

“Can you imagine the value of Paris’ hair? DNA — the truth, finally,” reporter Alicia Jacobs told the paper.

Dish on the fly
Hollywood’s confirmed commitmentphobe, George Clooney, may soon convert his bachelor pad to a love nest, as the actor’s relationship with Italian gal pal Elisabetta Canalis is said to be serious. “George has really fallen for Eli and wants her back with him in L.A. on a permanent basis,” an insider told the Daily Express. “It’s obviously a big step, particularly as George has been such a free spirit for so long. But it seems she really could be the one for him.” Of course, Clooney isn’t the only one who gets to make that call. The insider added, “Whether she goes along with the idea remains to be seen.” … Though she’s long been dogged by rumors of a nip here and a tuck there, Demi Moore denies she’s ever relied on such extreme age-delaying tricks. “It’s completely false — I’ve never had it done,” she insisted in an interview with French Marie Claire magazine. “I would never judge those who have — if it’s the best thing for them then I don’t see a problem. But I don’t like the idea of having an operation to hold up the aging process — it’s a way to combat your neurosis. The scalpel won’t make you happy.”

Tabloid Tidbits is compiled by Ree Hines.

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