Why Paula Abdul Says Simon Cowell ‘Permanently Damaged’ Her Brain
ABC/Eric McCandless Reading Time: 2 minutes
Former American Idol judge Paula Abdul had a few things to say about her co-star Simon Cowell in a recent interview. Abdul joked that her brain is “permanently damaged” from sitting next to the music mogul on the show’s judging panel.
Paula Abdul Talks About American Idol Co-Star Simon Cowell
“Being the only woman on the panel, I had to overcome the guy on the left of me. Starts with a ‘S’ and ends with ‘imon’ and the left side of my brain is permanently damaged with a British accent,” Abdul told Fox News about her time as an Idol judge.
Abdul also made sure to give a much nicer shout-out to her other co-star, Randy Jackson, adding, “But no big deal because at least I had Randy to the right of me.” Abdul, Cowell, and Jackson were the original three judges when American Idol first premiered back in 2002.
As for the show’s newest judge Carrie Underwood, Abdul said that the former Idol winner is “doing a great job.” She added of the country star, “She was such a magnificent artist, as a contestant, and she’s gone on to have the most stellar career.”
Underwood replaced former judge Katy Perry on the show’s panel. She sits between fellow judges Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan, who have been on the show since its move from FOX to ABC in 2018.
SEE ALSO: PAULA ABDUL SAYS SHE’S ‘PROUD’ OF ‘AMERICAN IDOL’ WINNER CARRIE UNDERWOOD
Abdul Used to Kick Cowell Under the Desk
Abdul appeared on The Jennifer Hudson Show in 2023, admitting to the former American Idol contestant that she had “spikes on my heels so I could kick him [Cowell] underneath the table” for being mean to singers during their time on the panel.
When Hudson remarked that Cowell seems “so mellow now,” Abdul attributed it to him becoming a father. However, she added that he’s “not that different,” calling him “snarky as always.” Abdul said that Cowell “makes jokes every time I see him.”
One of Cowell’s favorite jokes apparently involves calling to Abdul as if she’s a dog. During her interview with Hudson, she imitated Cowell slapping his knees and saying, “Come here, Paula. Come here.”
