Paulagate ’08 might be the most exciting thing that’s happened during this mostly predictable season of American Idol. The drama Abdul stirred up when she critiqued young Jason Castro’s second performance before he’d performed it has certainly gotten people talking. It’s not just the fans that have something to say about the ordeal. It looks like some other people in the industry have some opinions to share as well.
Country singer John Rich, who’s set to judge the newest season of Nashville Star had a few things to say about Paula’s mess-up. The Hollywood Reporter stated that Rich “laid into” Abdul for her inattentiveness. Rich said, “American Idol infuriates me as an artist. They're being fake about it. When you can't make a cognizant comment about someone's performance and you're commenting on something that happened the day before, why don't you just walk up onstage and slap them right across the face while you're at it? As an artist, I would just flip them the bird and walk off the stage. ... She wasn't even paying attention to what was going on.”
As Rich made this comment while on a panel to promote NBC’s Nashville Star, one could argue that he was just trying to get people’s attention with his comments in an effort to boost awareness of the country music talent show. Then again, he’s not exactly alone with his opinions on Abdul’s inattentiveness.
Fox responded to Rich’s comments, saying “John Rich's ungentlemanly and opportunistic comments are particularly disturbing considering the fact he attended a taping of American Idol last April, told producers, judges and performers he enjoyed himself and also did an interview with a crew from 'American Idol Extra' where he was extremely complimentary toward the show.”
Opportunistic, maybe but “ungentlemanly”? That just seems like an odd adverb to use in this context. Would it have been more “gentlemanly” for Rich to have kept his negative opinions to himself? Or is it ungentlemanly that he thinks the judges on Idol should pay attention to the acts they’re critiquing?
Anyway, to those of you who might’ve been concerned that Adbul’s blunder might’ve cost her her spot as the token nice-judge on Idol, rest assured, her job on the show appears to be secure.
