By Jessica Caswell
“American Idol” is just around the corner and people are already anticipating that Simon Cowell will again be rude and demeaning to the contestants trying for their big showbiz break.
The season is scheduled to kick off in mid-January, but it’s already a little different from other seasons.
Different because people are now questioning how far is too far when it comes to Cowell criticizing the contestants.
All of this came from a former tryout contestant, Paula Goodspeed committing suicide near the home of Paula Abdul in
Abdul is a judge for the hit show, alongside Cowell and Randy Jackson.
Goodspeed was obsessed with Abdul and while on the reality television show, she revealed many life-size pictures that she had drawn of the former 1980s pop singer and Lakers girl.
“It appears to be a suicide by overdose,” Detective Robert Bub of the Los Angeles Police Department said in a statement.
Police found Goodspeed’s body in her car along with prescription drugs. Pictures and CDs of Abdul were also found in the car.
So is this the case of an obsessed fan or someone who was so hurt by the judges’ rejection and Cowell’s ridicule that she would take her own life?
Well let’s just say that she may be a little different, but Cowell should feel terrible for the way he treated her when she went in for her audition.
Goodspeed stood before the judges with a smile on her face and Cowell told her that he noticed a resemblance between her and Abdul. Goodspeed replied, “I take it as a compliment because you’re beautiful.”
“I meant as a compliment,” Cowell said.
She then performed Tina Turner’s hit “Proud Mary.” The judges weren’t so nice after they heard her rendition of the song that wasn’t exactly up par.
“Well Paula, I’m speechless. I don’t know what to say,” Abdul said.
She continued to say that it wasn’t a good thing that she was speechless and Cowell kept the critique going by making fun of Goodspeed’s appearance.
“I don’t know any artist on earth that could sing with that much metal in your mouth anyway,” Cowell said. “You have so much metal in your mouth.”
He then made a comment that Goodspeed’s braces were like a bridge and used his hands to point out the size.
Some psychologists are saying that the way Cowell treated Goodspeed was wrong and that “American Idol” should’ve never aired the insults towards her.
“For someone that may have an unstable personality or not a clear, solid sense of themselves or self-esteem, that can really destroy them,” said therapist Julie Albright, a lecturer at the
Goodspeed had a Myspace and after the show she blogged about her experience.
“I have to believe there is something good about me,” Goodspeed wrote.
There were probably many good things about Goodspeed. If you watch the clip of her on the show, she was an amazing artist. Hopefully, Cowell along with the other judges will take into account how they make people feel when they criticize them.
“I am deeply shocked and saddened at what transpired yesterday,” Abdul said in a statement. “My heart and prayers go out to her family.”
4 comments:
This was destined to happen.
It is sad and something that I'm sure will be monitored closely this year.
And with this death look for American Idol ratings to climb even higher..
Column wise there are a few grammar and spelling mistakes but other than that it was well written
i have to agree with o boy e.s...it is a sad story. Death will make the ratings climb because people are going to want to see how the show will handle a serious event like that. There are somerun-on sentences and you did spell metal as mental. Other than that good, blog.
I can't believe how many people take this show so seriously.
I think the writer did a good job here, but misses an opportunity to really let loose.
In short, the column is probably underwritten.
The writer needs to consider being more judgmental and less reporter-like.
In a column, it's all right to say that Cowell is a bully, for example.
The video certainly tells the tale.
One other point: exactly when this happened needs to be said explicitly.
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