Corey on Stern; Paula on "SNL"

Corey Clark: cold-hearted snake or victim of the American Idol machine?

Unless you're capable of ignoring pop culture completely (in which case you wouldn't be reading this), it's impossible not to have formed an opinion of the former Idol contestant and Fallen Idol subject who's been dishing nonstop about his alleged relationship with Paula Abdul and his behind-the-scenes Idol experience.

Until Friday, Abdul had held her tongue, except to state through a publicist that she would not respond to Clark's "false statements" and calling Clark an "admitted liar."

Now the former cheerleader is breaking her silence--live from New York and in a written statement.

The diminutive Idol judge is headed for a special appearance on Saturday Night Live this weekend, an NBC spokesperson confirmed to E!

While it's unknown what form Abdul's guest spot will take, signing on for SNL was the first indication that she is not looking to maintain a low profile, despite the allegations against her.

Late Friday, she issued a statement thanking fans for their support and calling Clark's allegations "attempts at character assassination."

"All my life, I have been taught to take the high road, and never to dignify salacious or false accusations," Abdul said. "And I have been taught never, never to lie. Not only do I never lie, I never respond to lies, no matter how vicious, no matter how hurtful.

"I do trust my fans who can see through attempts at character assassination, and I do trust the essential fairness of the American public."

Even so, the "Forever Your Girl" singer could be in trouble if the salacious claims against her can be proven accurate.

Fox and the producers of American Idol have released a statement claiming they are investigating Clark's side of the story.

"We are absolutely committed to the fairness of this competition," the statement read. "We take any accusations of this nature very seriously, no matter their source, and we have already begun looking into them."

Meanwhile, television critics and Internet pop pundits have been speculating that Abdul will be asked to step down from her judging gig, should Clark's allegations be confirmed.

Clark's claims were backed by compelling evidence on ABC's Primetime special, including phone records, clothing receipts and a prescription cough medication bottle with Abdul's name on it that Clark claimed the judge gave him to help his throat.

According to Clark, he did not solicit any special treatment from Abdul.

"I wasn't using her. I didn?t step to her, she came and stepped to me," Clark told Extra. "The whole game was brought to my doorstep. I just opened the door."

Clark appeared on Howard Stern's radio show Friday to further discuss what happened once that door was opened, offering lurid details of his sexual relationship with Abdul.

Clark made a stop on CNBC to say he's willing to take a lie detector test--if Paula Abdul takes one, too. (Globe magazine has offered to adminster said test.) Clark also told Extra that he doesn't think Fox should fire Abdul because "she didn't do nothing but have sex with someone. Everybody has sex."

One thing Clark hasn't dished about is an alleged threesome with a couple season-two female Idol finalists. Simon Cowell previously dredged up the rumor in his 2003 book, I Don't Mean To Be Rude, But.... Clark's lawyer--without the slightest hint of irony--tells the New York Daily News, "Even if it is true, it was three years ago."

For those looking for even more scoop than Clark has dished out in his umpteen interviews, the former Idol contestant has penned a tell-all book about his experiences titled They Told Me to Tell the Truth, So...(The Sex, Lies, and Paulatics of One of America's Idols).

Clark also has an album coming out on June 21, featuring a song called "Paulatics," further detailing the story of his and Abdul's alleged romance.