Ladies Home JournalUPDATE: Added Abdul in a statement today: "I want to make it perfectly clear to everyone that I have never been addicted to or abused drugs in my life," Abdul said. "I have never been drunk. I have never entered a rehab or detox treatment center.
"I spent time hiking, bicycling, doing yoga and enjoying the spa. As anyone who has visited the La Costa Resort knows, it is a luxury hotel, not a rehab facility."
And she spent three days there, not 30, like the article stated.
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Paula Abdul hit the airwaves this morning in Detroit to refute what appeared to be her shocking admission in a Ladies' Home Journal cover story.
As E! News (and dozens of other media outlets) reported earlier this week, American Idol's "nice" judge graces the June cover of the magazine, and the accompanying article claims that Paula checked into La Costa Resort and Spa in Carlsbad, Calif., to kick her painkiller addiction.
This is not true, according to Paula. "It was very stressful for me to hear that and to be quoted saying something I never said," Paula said on WKQI's Mojo in the Morning radio show today. "I've never checked into a rehab clinic. I've never been addicted or abused drugs, and I've never been addicted or abused alcohol. I've never even been drunk in my life."
And that's not all she has to say on the topic...
The singer admits to checking into the spa, but says it was just a spa vacation, not a rehab stint. "It's a spa. I was there for almost three days having fun doing spa stuff. It's not a clinic. It's not a detox place. It's a luxurious spa. It's like taking a mini vacation. I just wanted to chill out and get messages and maybe a manicure and pedicure."
When asked if she planned to sue the magazine, Paula wouldn't say yay or nay: "That's what my handlers [will deal with]." She added that she would be issuing an official statement to the press shortly. Check back here later for an update.
Meanwhile, a representative for Ladies' Home Journal tells us, "We stand by our reporting and are happy that Paula decided to share her journey with us."
Believe it, or not.
(Originally published May 7, 2009, at 11:55 a.m. PT)