Fox TV probe clears “American Idol” star Abdul

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – A probe by the Fox television
network has found no evidence to support claims by a former
contestant on the hit television talent show “American Idol,”
that he had had a sexual affair with judge Paula Abdul.

The investigation also found that Abdul had not given Corey
Clark any special help with his songs, wardrobe or any related
matters, Fox said in a statement.

Abdul, a former pop star with hits like “Straight Up” in
the late 1980s, has denied she had a sexual relationship with
Clark or aided the singer on the show.

In a statement released late Friday, Abdul said she was
“grateful this ordeal is over.”

A spokesman for Clark had no immediate comment as he had
not yet seen the Fox statement.

When Clark, 25, first made the claims in May of a
relationship with Abdul, the news generated controversy around
“American Idol,” which is the most watched show on U.S.
television and has launched careers for singers like Kelly
Clarkson.

Clark had said in an interview with the ABC television
network that Abdul, 43, coached him privately on his singing,
gave him money for expensive clothes and began a platonic
relationship that soon turned sexual.

Fox said in its statement that Abdul acknowledged she had
phone conversations with Clark while he was a contestant, but
she denied the talks were related to her giving assistance.

Abdul’s and Clark’s accounts of the phone calls “differ
greatly and no evidence was uncovered to resolve the conflicts
in their accounts,” Fox said.

The network’s probe was conducted by lawyers at independent
firms, required almost 600 hours of work and spanned more than
3 1/2 months.

Clark was kicked off “American Idol” in 2003 for failing to
disclose that he faced criminal charges of battery and
resisting arrest that stemmed from a fight with his sister.