Paula Abdul Tells Matt Lauer "There Absolutely Isn't Scandal"  7/18/07

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PAULA ABDUL TELLS "TODAY'S" MATT LAUER "THERE ABSOLUTELY ISN'T ANY SCANDAL"

Abdul Discusses the Drug and Alcohol Rumors Surrounding Her and She Confirms Who She Has Been Dating

NEW YORK – July 18, 2007 – In a live interview that aired on NBC News' "Today" this morning, Paula Abdul talked to Matt Lauer about the drug and alcohol addiction rumors she has faced saying she is not addicted to painkillers or alcohol. Abdul said, "painkillers don't work for me," and "I've had to learn to live in pain."

Abdul also talks about her love life, her role as a judge on "American Idol" and her new reality series "Hey, Paula" on Bravo.

Below are excerpts from the interview. If used, please credit NBC News' "Today." 

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LAUER: Let me ask you about some things that have come up about you. One was that now famous, maybe infamous, interview where you were said to be slurring your words. People said `Paula Abdul was drunk.' What was the truth?

Ms. ABDUL: I've never been drunk in my life, Matt. I've never been drunk in my life. And that's the whole thing about me being a judge on "American Idol," is it is the toughest job for me because I have to think of something positive to say even when they're trying to rise above adversity. And so sometimes when I'm excited and I want to get something out...

LAUER: Right.

Ms. ABDUL: ...I'll say, I'll stop.

LAUER: Do you drink?

Ms. ABDUL: Do I drink?

LAUER: Yeah, I mean, without being drunk.

Ms. ABDUL: I've never been drunk. I'll have an occasional sip of wine or drink that has an umbrella on it and sugar.

LAUER: Clear up another misconception. There was a report--and I don't know where this came from - that you are addicted to painkillers.

Ms. ABDUL: Never been addicted to painkillers. Painkillers don't work for me. That's the biggest misconception. And having been through a plane crash and having 14 cervical spinal surgeries the hardest thing for me is I've had to learn to live in pain.

LAUER: So you don't take anything? You don't take anything on a regular basis?

Ms. ABDUL: I take -I've gone -come forward with this with my doctors. I take biogenic medicine that works for like -if there was a botox for nerves that can stop them from glomming onto one another, there's a drug called Embril that's used for skin disorders that works for me.

LAUER: But what you're telling me is there is no problem, there is no - you know, there is no smoking gun, there is no scandal here that people need to know about.

Ms. ABDUL: There absolutely isn't any scandal. And I'm open and willing to talk about it. It's not my job as an entertainer that I have to talk about it, and I'm willing to. And through that I've helped a lot of people.

LAUER: You made a statement recently I like. `My romantic life is a horror movie." OK, maybe it's because you work so hard, by the way that you don't have time.

Ms. ABDUL: I do work. I work a tremendous amount, but it's looking upward. Things are good.

LAUER: Talk to me. You can't tease me like that.

Ms. ABDUL: I'm really good right now.

LAUER: Is there someone in particular?

Ms. ABDUL: There is somebody in particular.

LAUER: You showed up at the premier of "Hairspray"--I have it right here.

Ms. ABDUL: Oh get out of here.

LAUER: How about that? I just so happen to have it right there.

Ms. ABDUL: Oh!

LAUER: With J. T. -is it Torregiani?

Ms. ABDUL: That would be it. That would be him.

LAUER: Yeah, that would be him?

Ms. ABDUL: That would be--that's him.

LAUER: Yeah, in the picture. But is that the person that's making things look up?

Ms. ABDUL: Yeah.

LAUER: That wasn't so hard, was it? You didn't even have to get to the dare part of truth or dare, right? That was pretty good.

Ms. ABDUL: No, he's a good guy.

LAUER: Paula Abdul, it's nice have you here. You look good.

Ms. ABDUL: Thanks for having me.

LAUER: Thanks. Good to see you.

Ms. ABDUL: Thank you for that.

LAUER: And "Hey Paula" airs tomorrow night 10/9 Central time on our sister cable station Bravo.

Source: NBC Press Release