SIMON COWELL - COWELL OFFERS HIS SUPPORT TO ABDUL

COWELL OFFERS HIS SUPPORT TO ABDUL

Music mogul SIMON COWELL has reached out to former AMERICAN IDOL judge PAULA ABDUL following her departure from the hit show - dismissing rumours of a rift between the pair.
The singer quit her role on the judging panel earlier this month (Aug09) following a reported dispute with the show's bosses over her multi-million dollar pay deal.
Cowell has been forced to bring in a string of celebrity guests judges - including Victoria Beckham, Katy Perry and Mary J. Blige - to fill Abdul's place as he searches for a permanent replacement.
But the Brit is adamant he's not bitter about Abdul's decision to quit - and insists he will always be a friend to the star.
He tells Fox news, “She's taken the decision in her life now, which you have to respect her for making the decision. I didn't want to get involved in what was going on because it wasn't really any of my business but I spoke to her a lot through the whole process.
"I always thought she was the heart of the show. I'm not the heart, I'm not even the brain actually. But she was the heart, so you've taken that away so it's a different show. I’m sad, I am. I'll probably see her next week. I'm going to listen to what she wants to do next. I will support her in anything she wants to do next. I think she is TV gold, genuinely.”